Defending champion Solveig Løvseth heads a formidable women’s field for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona on Saturday 10 October.
The Norwegian wears F1 after winning on her IMWC debut last year, but faces three former champions in Laura Philipp, Lucy Charles-Barclay and Chelsea Sodaro, alongside three-time runner-up Kat Matthews and reigning IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Taylor Knibb.
There are intriguing newcomers too, with Julie Derron and Paula Findlay preparing for their first appearances at the full-distance World Championship.
Below is the women’s professional start list in bib-number order. We’ll keep this page updated between now and race day, with any further withdrawals marked in the table.
Who is racing in Kona?
Løvseth returns to defend the title she won in dramatic circumstances last October, when Knibb and Charles-Barclay were both forced out in the closing stages.
Matthews, who finished just 35 seconds behind the Norwegian, wears F2 as she bids to turn her collection of world championship silvers into gold.
Philipp, the 2024 champion in Nice and third in Kona last year, has F3. Hannah Berry wears F4 after finishing fourth in 2025, with fifth-placed Lisa Perterer assigned F5.
Charles-Barclay, who won here in 2023, races with F6, followed by 2022 champion Sodaro at F7 and Knibb at F8.
Findlay has F14 after winning on her full-distance debut at Lake Placid, while Olympic silver medallist Derron wears F19 following her victory at IRONMAN Switzerland – for both it is a Kona debut.
Who withdrew before race week?
Germany’s Daniela Bleymehl, originally assigned F51, is out and not included in the active field below.
Which other notable names are missing?
Alanis Siffert is perhaps the most intriguing absentee after winning Challenge Roth and finishing third at September’s IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice. The Swiss athlete has opted to leave Kona for the future.
Britain’s Holly Lawrence is also missing after injury disrupted her plans to qualify, while Jocelyn McCauley has stepped away from this year’s race during pregnancy.
Our full qualification round-up explains how the field took shape.
Kona 2026 women’s professional start list and bib numbers
Last updated: 5 October 2026.
The table below contains 52 athletes after Bleymehl’s withdrawal. Any subsequent withdrawals will be shown with the athlete’s name struck through and an explanation in the updates column, including a link where available.
| Bib | Athlete | Nationality | Race-week updates |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Solveig Løvseth | NOR | |
| F2 | Kat Matthews | GBR | |
| F3 | Laura Philipp | GER | |
| F4 | Hannah Berry | NZL | |
| F5 | Lisa Perterer | AUT | |
| F6 | Lucy Charles-Barclay | GBR | |
| F7 | Chelsea Sodaro | USA | |
| F8 | Taylor Knibb | USA | |
| F9 | Sara Svensk | SWE | |
| F10 | Leonie Konczalla | GER | |
| F11 | Lotte Wilms | NED | |
| F12 | Daisy Davies | GBR | |
| F14 | Paula Findlay | CAN | |
| F15 | Franziska Hofmann | GER | |
| F16 | Anna Pabinger | AUT | |
| F18 | Penny Slater | AUS | |
| F19 | Julie Derron | SUI | |
| F20 | Katrine Christensen | DEN | |
| F21 | Grace Thek | AUS | |
| F22 | Marta Sanchez | ESP | |
| F23 | Tamara Jewett | CAN | |
| F24 | Jackie Hering | USA | |
| F25 | Jenny Jendryschik | GER | |
| F26 | Fenella Langridge | GBR | |
| F27 | Kate Curran | GBR | |
| F28 | Marta Lagownik | POL | |
| F29 | Rachel Zilinskas | USA | |
| F30 | Marjolaine Pierré | FRA | |
| F31 | Danielle Lewis | USA | |
| F32 | Gabrielle Lumkes | USA | |
| F33 | India Lee | GBR | |
| F34 | Charlotte McShane | AUS | |
| F35 | Rhianne Hughes | GBR | |
| F36 | Antonia Milowsky | GER | |
| F37 | Anne-Sophie Pierre | FRA | |
| F38 | Regan Hollioake | AUS | |
| F39 | Lara Hernandez-Tome | ESP | |
| F40 | Kaidi Kivioja | EST | |
| F41 | Nina Derron | SUI | |
| F42 | Samantha Skold | USA | |
| F43 | Jana Uderstadt | GER | |
| F44 | Imogen Simmonds | SUI | |
| F45 | Rebecca Anderbury | GBR | |
| F46 | Nikita Paskiewiez | FRA | |
| F47 | Skye Wallace | AUS | |
| F48 | Henrike Güber | GER | |
| F49 | Pâmella Nascimento de Oliveira | BRA | |
| F50 | Rosie Wild | GBR | |
| F52 | Elisabetta Curridori | ITA | |
| F53 | Julie Iemmolo | FRA | |
| F54 | Danielle Fauteux | CAN | |
| F55 | Arlette Gonzalez | MEX |
