The women’s race in Kona started at 06:30 local time and we’ll have detailed reports here after the swim, bike and run legs.
While each one of those is in progress you can follow along with our live updates page here.
Swim – LCB clear as Philipp loses ground
Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) made it seven swim leads from seven Kona starts, emerging from increasingly choppy waters in 51:29 with a 1:26 advantage over Taylor Knibb (USA).
The Briton had predicted that rough conditions could play to her strengths, and she wasted little time putting her rivals under pressure. Knibb initially set the pace in the chase pack, with Marta Sanchez (ESP) later joining her towards the front.
A big swell disrupted the back of that group late in the swim, with Kat Matthews (GBR) and defending champion Solveig Løvseth (NOR) among those losing contact. Julie Derron (SUI), meanwhile, remained well placed on her Kona debut.
Sanchez emerged third in 52:59, followed by Rachel Zilinskas (USA) and Imogen Simmonds (SUI), with Derron sixth in 53:09. Hannah Berry (NZL), Pâmella Oliveira (BRZ) and Daisy Davies (GBR) completed the closely packed chasers before a gap to Lotte Wilms (NED) in tenth.
Matthews was 14th in 54:57, leaving her 3:28 behind Charles-Barclay — a considerably better position relative to the swim leader than last year. Paula Findlay (CAN) followed in 55:02, while Løvseth clocked 55:29, exactly four minutes off the lead.
The biggest early setback among the leading contenders belonged to Laura Philipp. The German emerged 30th in 1:00:03, facing an 8:34 deficit before the bike began.
| Position | Athlete | Nationality | Swim time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucy Charles-Barclay | GBR | 51:29 |
| 2 | Taylor Knibb | USA | 52:55 |
| 3 | Marta Sanchez | ESP | 52:59 |
| 4 | Rachel Zilinskas | USA | 53:07 |
| 5 | Imogen Simmonds | SUI | 53:08 |
| 6 | Julie Derron | SUI | 53:09 |
| 7 | Hannah Berry | NZL | 53:12 |
| 8 | Pâmella Oliveira | BRA | 53:15 |
| 9 | Daisy Davies | GBR | 53:19 |
| 10 | Lotte Wilms | NED | 54:31 |
So Charles-Barclay in familiar territory but how long could she hold off Knibb on the bike?
Bike –
report will appear here later…
Run –
report will appear here later…
IRONMAN World Championship 2026 results
Saturday October 10th, 2026 – Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 3.8km / 180km / 42.2km
PRO Women
full results and splits will appear here later…
