Taylor Knibb had dreamed of winning in Kona since visiting the island as a 12-year-old to watch her mum, Leslie, compete. Sixteen years later, she became the IRONMAN World Champion after a finish that even she was struggling to comprehend.
The American won in 8:36:29 after defending champion Solveig Løvseth’s challenge unravelled inside the final mile. Laura Philipp finished second and Julie Derron third, while Løvseth eventually made it across the line in eighth.
For Knibb, the extraordinary reversal followed a decision made much earlier in the marathon: when she began to struggle, she would prioritise reaching the finish safely rather than fighting every move.
It was a lesson learned painfully in 2025 – and reinforced by advice from eight-time IRONMAN world champion Paula Newby-Fraser.
A dream planted watching her mum
Knibb’s connection with Kona stretches back to 2010, when she came to support her mum, one of the best age-group athletes there has ever been. Returning as a contender for the sport’s biggest prize brought that childhood experience into sharp focus.
“One of my friends texted me on the flight here and said ‘this is Taylor’s dream’,” she explained afterwards.
“And I was thinking when I came here in 2010 as a 12-year-old, if I had seen myself in that position, I would’ve been her biggest fan, so that’s the essence of it.
“It’s so special to be back here and to get to race here, it’s always a privilege. And yes, there are some awful moments out there and there are some incredible moments, because it’s kind of what we all dream of.”
At the post-race press conference, she admitted the reality of achieving that ambition had yet to register.
“I never expected it. I was hopeful, but at the same time, you just don’t expect that to happen. But it did.
“Again, it still hasn’t sunk in yet.”
The decision that changed her race
Knibb had spent much of the day at the front, trading the bike lead with Lucy Charles-Barclay before establishing a 3:06 advantage heading into the marathon.
But as Løvseth moved through the field behind her, Knibb was confronting a familiar problem.
“At 23k heading into the Energy Lab, I was like, ‘Woof, you have a decision to make’, and I was starting to struggle,” she told the press conference.
“And I’m like, ‘You need to take care of yourself to get to the finish line’. That’s what Paula taught me last year.”
When Løvseth caught her with around 8km remaining, Knibb briefly tried to match the move before the Norwegian pulled clear. Her explanation afterwards revealed why she could not sustain a response.
“When Solveig was coming, I couldn’t respond. I just had to let her pass me.
“And then I would walk the aid stations, take stuff in, because I’m like, ‘You need to get to the finish line’.”
Last year, Knibb’s race had ended before she reached that finish. This time, she was determined to heed the warning signs.
“My race turned south last year when I stopped listening to my body and I tried to battle it out with a woman. That didn’t work.”
‘You have to acquiesce to the island’
For an athlete accustomed to setting the pace, accepting that she could no longer dictate the race required a different mindset.
“I think that it’s more, I would say, acceptance or letting go – letting go of control, which I think is tough,” Knibb explained.
“You kind of have to acquiesce to the island, and the island will always win.
“So how do you take care of yourself based on the conditions, and get through it, and make it there safely, and listen to your body?”
Even encouragement from those on the course could not shake that commitment.
“People were telling me, ‘Oh, she’s just right ahead’, and stuff like that. But I was very committed when I had that choice that I have to get there safely.”
As she put it in another post-race reflection: “I had to learn from last year to just get to the finish line, get to the finish line, get to the finish line.”
That approach kept her moving while Løvseth appeared on course to retain her title. Then, inside the last mile, everything changed.
The Norwegian suddenly became unable to run and struggled even to walk. Knibb came past to reclaim the lead and complete an extraordinary turnaround from her own disappointment a year earlier.
Concern for Løvseth amid the celebrations
Knibb’s joy was accompanied by concern for the athlete she had passed so close to the finish.
“It’s painful to see,” she said of Løvseth’s struggles.
Reflecting on her own experience last year, Knibb explained that she had little recollection of what happened, while those around her had witnessed it unfold.
“It’s mostly health and safety that you worry about,” she said.
Løvseth eventually regained her feet and made it to the finish in eighth, receiving an extraordinary reception after losing both her world title and the opportunity to win the IRONMAN Pro Series.
For Knibb, simply completing the race safely carried considerable significance alongside the title.
“I’m more relieved that I could finish this year and not have that incident again.”
Her victory came just a month after she claimed a fourth IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship title in Nice.
But beyond the achievements, this was the fulfilment of the dream she had carried since watching her mum race here – realised on a day when listening to her body mattered as much as pushing it.
Read more:
Kona’s cruellest twist: How Løvseth’s late collapse handed Knibb world title
IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2026 women’s results: Knibb wins after INCREDIBLE late twist
IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2026 men’s results: Vincent Luis takes dramatic win
IRONMAN Kona 2026 as it happened as Knibb and Luis crowned champions
