Tim Don IS going to Kona after all…

We thought it was all over - and we were wrong. Despite his DNF at Sunday's IRONMAN Copenhagen, Great Britain's Tim Don HAS qualified for the IRONMAN World Championship in Hawaii this year
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

‘The Don’ does qualify for Hawaii 2018

It’s not the first time that Tim Don has been written off!

After we (and indeed, Tim himself), assumed that his attempt to qualify for the 2018 IRONMAN World Championship in Hawaii was over after his DNF at Sunday’s IRONMAN Copenhagen left him just outside the automatic qualifying slots in the Kona Pro Rankings (KPR), news here from Tim himself that the dream is still alive.

The past weekend represented the final weekend of qualifying, and from Tim’s Instagram post (below), with athletes ahead of him not taking up their option, he has indeed earned his place on the start line at Dig Me Beach on Saturday 13th October.

We expect the full details of the final Kona start list will be published relatively soon.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmyH-Lul0Dp/

UPDATE

Further to Tim’s posting, the KPR table (HERE) has now been updated to confirm Tim’s qualification and acceptance of his slot (check out the green ‘Q’ below). That confirms that Jonathan Shearon (USA), did not take up his option, leaving Tim as the first athlete in terms of rolldown.

What that also means… is that Matt Russell, the athlete also suffered an awful bike crash in Kona (DURING the race, when a car pulled out on to the course), is now in the ‘first athlete to miss out’ position, just 15 points behind Tim. Should an athlete that has already accepted a slot withdraw, I believe that Matt would be next in line to fill that position.

When you consider the life-threatening conditions that both Tim and Matt left Kona with last October, to have got back to this position is remarkable.

Tim Don Kona 2018

#GBKona 2018 banner

John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Challenge Sardinia location
Let’s race… Challenge Forte Village Sardinia
Are calf sleeves actually worth it for triathletes? How many watts aero calf compression sleeves could save you
Laura Siddall Patagonman Xtreme Triathlon 2023
Are we in a triathlon boom, or hurtling towards burnout? Laura Siddall on the growth of the sport
Is sports nutrition bad for you? Ultra-processed foods are under siege, and athletes are caught in the cross fire – but should we be worried?
Challenge Barcelona 2023 - Photo Credit: Jose Luis Hourcade
The ultimate city break triathlon race-cations: from Challenge Barcelona to Singapore T100 these are the best city centre races to combine multisport with sightseeing
latest News
Caroline Livesey wins the first ever Scottish National Gravel Championships in August 2025. [Photo credit: Outsider Events]
Endurance star Caroline Livesey outlines plans for 2026 – including ‘insane’ record bike attempt
Jackie Hering IRONMAN Cairns 2025 Finish Line
Jackie Hering plotting route for more IRONMAN success on the back of snowshoe glory
Lionel Sanders 70.3 St George 2025
Lionel Sanders among overwhelming cohort of pros calling on IRONMAN to change draft zone to 20 metres
Sam Long is a doubt for the IRONMAN Arizona event as he awaits the birth of his baby boy.
Sam Long reveals why his 2026 focus will firmly be on IRONMAN Pro Series and not T100 Tour
Solveig Lovseth wins IRONMAN World Championship 2025
‘Dynamic shift’ sees more younger athletes and increased female participation for IRONMAN and Challenge in 2025
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
247 Endurance

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

All plans include a 7-day free trial

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

All plans include a 7-day free trial

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...