Hawaii Ironman World Championship - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii - Triathlon

The Hawaii Ironman World Championship is a Triathlon race in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii consisting of a Ironman.

IRONMAN, a Wanda Sports Holdings company, is excited to team up with Amazon as the title sponsor of the IRONMAN World Championship and Official Sports Nutrition Retailer of the iconic triathlon event that will take place in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i. The collaboration will provide participants access to a vast selection of nutrition products, including items from IRONMAN official nutrition partners CLIF Bar and Gatorade, available to athletes looking to prove ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE on the sports largest stage. The inaugural KONA race was held in 1978 as a way to challenge athletes who had seen success at endurance swimming and running events. Honolulu-based Navy couple Judy and John Collins proposed combining the three toughest endurance races in Hawai'i-the 2.4-mile Waikiki Roughwater Swim, 112 miles of the Around-O'ahu Bike Race and the 26.2-mile Honolulu Marathon-into one event.

On February 18, 1978, 15 people came to Waikiki to take on the IRONMAN challenge. Prior to racing, each received three sheets of paper with a few rules and a course description. The last page read: Swim 2.4 miles! Bike 112 miles! Run 26.2 miles! Brag for the rest of your life!

In 1981, the race moved from the tranquil shores of Waikiki to the barren lava fields of Kona on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Along the Kona Coast, black lava rock dominates the panorama, and athletes battle the ho'omumuku crosswinds of 45 mph, 95-degree temperatures and a scorching sun.