It was a race, and a rivalry, that would go down in IRONMAN history.
The ‘Iron War’ of Mark Allen chasing down arch nemesis Dave Scott to win his first ever World Championship remains one of the sport’s most dramatic and significant moments.
Frustrated at being in the shadow of his rival for so long, Allen had almost given up on his dream of securing the title. He simply couldn’t see a way of beating a man who had won an incredible six championships in eight years and had beaten him five times already.
Mutual respect
But something changed on October 14, 1989, as the pair once again lined up at Kona.
What followed is still regarded by many as ‘The Greatest Race Ever Run’ as the duo produced a battle royal across the Big Island – one which saw Allen finally achieve his dream as he crossed the line just 58 seconds ahead of his rival.
It was a win, of course, that would act as the spark for Allen’s legendary IRONMAN career as he went on to win six World Championship titles. His marathon split on that October date with destiny was 2:40:04, a record that stood for 27 years.
It was also a moment in history that triathlon fans still can’t get enough of… and it seems, neither can the heroes in question, two men who not only helped mould the sport into what it has become today, but who also grew to be great friends as well as competitive rivals.
Even today, almost 36 years after that monumental day in Kona, the duo remain box office and keen to praise one another’s impact on their own lives and careers.
The latest show of mutual respect comes from Allen, who recently posted an open letter to Scott on his Instagram account, thanking him for driving him to his incredible feats.
‘You were the fire I needed’
He wrote: “Dear Dave. It’s been a long road since that October day in 1989 when we pushed each other to the edge on the Big Island. People still call it The Iron War – and rightly so. But for me, the real story goes far beyond that one race.
“Dave, thank you. Thank you for setting the bar impossibly high when I first showed up in Kona, a wide-eyed kid dreaming of victory. You were already a six-time Ironman World Champion – relentless, confident, and unapologetically tough. You trained with a focus the rest of us could only try to match. You never gave an inch. That mattered more than you know.
“You were the fire I needed. Losing to you over and over could’ve broken me. Instead, it made me better. You taught me how to suffer, how to stay present in the pain, and how to grow – not just as an athlete, but as a human being. You brought out the best in me. That’s what true champions do.”
Rival – and brother
And he makes a point of highlighting that the race alone was not the end of their story… with a friendship blossoming in the aftermath of all the sweat and tears.
“I’m also grateful for the friendship we’ve built since the racing ended,” he adds. “We started as competitors – respectful, but not close. That changed. I’ve come to truly value your honesty, your intellect, and your passion for the sport. You’re still all-in. And I love that about you.
“We’ve stood on start lines as rivals, shared podiums as champions, and now stand side by side as friends. Not many get a rival like you. Fewer still get to call that rival a brother.
“So here’s to you – for your career, your uncompromising standards, and for being the original Ironman blueprint. You showed us all what’s possible when heart, will, and soul align.”
From 1989 through to 1995, Allen would go on to win six IRONMAN World Championships and is rightly regarded as a true legend of the sport, something which he clearly holds Scott and his incredible work ethic partly responsible for.
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