We are closing in fast on triathlon’s 2024 IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, and now it all feels very real with the official start list in place for the big race later today (Saturday October 26).
A galaxy of long-course stars will assemble on the ‘Big Island’ to do battle for the most famous prize in the sport, and what a beauty it should be. The official start list had 55 names on it, including a number of former champions – a tantalising mix.
Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden – champions in 2021 and 2022 respectively – are back after their Paris 2024 bids and ready to do battle on the most iconic course in triathlon.
Reigning champion Sam Laidlow will provide the stiffest of opposition, after his breakthrough second behind in Iden in 2022, followed by that spectacular success in home soil in Nice last year.
Two-time Kona king Patrick Lange once again bids to complete a hat-trick of IRONMAN World Championship victories after finishing second on the French Riviera in 2023, while the fearsome Dane Magnus Ditlev looks to improve on his third place.
These superstars are just the tip of the iceberg in a deep field which also includes Canadian superstar Lionel Sanders – who has a best of second place back in 2017.
The British interest comes via David McNamee – third twice in Kona in the past – and recent IRONMAN Frankfurt sensation Kieran Lindars.
IRONMAN Kona World Championship start list
The official start list for Kona in 2024 is as follows:
| Bib Number | Athlete | Country |
| 1 | Sam Laidlow | FRA |
| 2 | Patrick Lange | DEU |
| 3 | Magnus Ditlev | DNK |
| 4 | Gustav Iden | NOR |
| 5 | Kristian Blummenfelt | NOR |
| 6 | Rudy Von Berg | USA |
| 7 | Leon Chevalier | FRA |
| 8 | Arthur Horseau | FRA |
| 9 | Bradley Weiss | ZAF |
| 10 | Gregory Barnaby | ITA |
| 11 | Robert Wilkowiecki | POL |
| 12 | Clément Mignon | FRA |
| 14 | Matt Burton | AUS |
| 15 | Rasmus Svenningsson | SWE |
| 16 | Stenn Goetstouwers | BEL |
| 17 | Trevor Foley | USA |
| 18 | Antonio Benito López | ESP |
| 19 | Michael Weiss | AUT |
| 20 | Sam Appleton | AUS |
| 21 | Denis Chevrot | FRA |
| 22 | Pieter Heemeryck | BEL |
| 23 | Daniel Bækkegård | DNK |
| 24 | Reinaldo Colucci | BRA |
| 25 | Steven McKenna | AUS |
| 27 | Matt Hanson | USA |
| 28 | Arnaud Guilloux | FRA |
| 29 | Jackson Laundry | CAN |
| 30 | Chris Leiferman | USA |
| 31 | Robert Kallin | SWE |
| 32 | Matthew Marquardt | USA |
| 33 | Paul Schuster | DEU |
| 34 | Jonas Hoffman | DEU |
| 35 | Kristian Høgenhaug | DNK |
| 36 | Andre Lopes | BRA |
| 37 | Braden Currie | NZL |
| 38 | Mathias Petersen | DNK |
| 39 | Lionel Sanders | CAN |
| 40 | Thor Bendix Madsen | DNK |
| 41 | Nick Thompson | AUS |
| 42 | Tristan Olij | NED |
| 43 | Mike Phillips | NZL |
| 44 | Jason Pohl | CAN |
| 45 | Tomasz Szala | POL |
| 46 | David McNamee | GBR |
| 47 | Kieran Lindars | GBR |
| 48 | Menno Koolhaas | NLD |
| 49 | Kacper Stepniak | POL |
| 50 | Finn Große-Freese | DEU |
| 51 | Ben Hamilton | NZL |
| 52 | Leonard Arnold | DEU |
| 53 | Ben Kanute | USA |
| 54 | Cameron Wurf | AUS |
| 55 | Dylan Magnien | FRA |
| 56 | Igor Amorelli | BRA |
When is the IRONMAN World Championship?
The big race takes place in Kona, Hawaii on Saturday October 26 and you can click here for start time in your region plus a full guide to how to watch the big race live.
What are the distances?
Triathlon distances vary dependent on what the race is, but the Ironman/full distance is the Holy Grail for most athletes.
They start with a 2.4-mile swim, before moving onto the bike for a ride which lasts a brutal 112 miles. Then they finish off by running a marathon. In Kona, this all happens with the added problem of absolutely brutal heat.
