Taylor Knibb (USA) became IRONMAN World Champion in Kailua-Kona in dramatic fashion, taking the lead in the final two kilometers of the race. In a role reversal of last year, Knibb passed defending IRONMAN World Champion Solveig Løvseth (NOR), who had collapsed on the side of the road, to claim her maiden IRONMAN World Championship title in 8:36:29. The American had long dreamed of winning in Kona, a seed planted after watching her mom compete on the island many years ago.
Knibb’s victory comes just a month after she won her fourth IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship title in Nice, France, making her just the third woman to win both World Championships in the same year.
Knibb had led much of the race in Kona before being overtaken by Løvseth with around eight kilometers remaining. But in a dramatic twist, the misfortune that denied Knibb victory a year earlier struck the Norwegian this time, as Løvseth staggered and ultimately collapsed less than two kilometers from the finish. That allowed Knibb to recapture the lead and win her first IRONMAN World Championship title. Behind her, Laura Philipp (DEU) ran through the field to finish second, more than three minutes behind Knibb, with Kona rookie Julie Derron (CHE) rounding out the women’s podium. Løvseth walked her way to the finish, smiling and high-fiving fans as she finished eighth overall.
"Last year played a huge part because when I was entering the Energy Lab, I made a big decision and it was just, take care of yourself, because it was getting really hard. Then when Solveig came back, I thought I can't fight because if I fight, I'm going to lose, so I had to learn from last year to just get to the finish line, get to the finish line, get to the finish line," said Knibb.
"One of my friends texted me on the flight here and said ‘this is Taylor's dream’ 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."
As runner-up this year, Philipp has now finished on every step of the IRONMAN World Championship podium.
“The swim, I got really seasick because there were big waves, so the swim wasn’t very good but I think in the end the positive thing was that I did a solo ride which meant I could just focus on myself, I didn’t have to worry about Race Ranger or any group dynamics,” said Philipp. “It feels really special, I was missing the second-place medal so now I have the full set – a win, a second and two thirds. How the day started and how it now ended, it’s just crazy.”
Derron’s podium in Kona caps an incredible season for this Swiss athlete, who also finished second behind Knibb at the Precision Fuel & Hydration IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice.
“It was a rollercoaster honestly, I can’t believe that I finished on the podium. When I was walking on the Queen K I thought I would end up walking 26 kilometers and somehow, I pulled myself back. I started running again and I didn’t expect to move into third with a kilometer to go. I’m so glad that Solveig is in the finish. What a gutsy race from here and all the girls. I can’t believe it honestly, it’s a wild ride this Kona thing,” said Derron.
2026 IRONMAN World Championship Women’s Race Recap
Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) led the swim from the sound of the cannon, with Taylor Knibb (USA) emerging as her closest challenger, sitting around 1 minute 27 seconds back and working hard to keep the pace high throughout much of the swim. Knibb and Marta Sanchez (ESP) led the chase group for the majority of the course. With around five minutes remaining, a large swell hit the back of the group, splitting up athletes including Kat Matthews (GBR) and Løvseth. However, the race favorites responded well and limited their losses, remaining only around three to four minutes behind Charles-Barclay at the front of the race. Charles-Barclay was first out of the water in 51:29 and onto the ROUVY Bike Course, followed by Knibb one minute 26 seconds behind.
Charles-Barclay carried her lead from the swim onto the 180km bike, but Knibb closed the gap earlier than many might have expected, catching and passing the 2023 IRONMAN World Champion around 40km. Charles-Barclay refused to let her get away, however, responding to regain contact as the pair traded the advantage on the road to Hawi. Behind them, Imogen Simmonds (CHE) was producing an excellent ride, while Kona rookies Julie Derron (CHE) and Paula Findlay (CAN), along with Hannah Berry (NZL) and Lisa Perterer (AUT) formed part of a strong chase group. Knibb reached the Hawi turnaround 43 seconds ahead of Charles-Barclay, with Simmonds third.
Charles-Barclay continued to fight back on the return towards Kona, briefly retaking the lead beyond 100km before Knibb responded again. It wasn't until around 120km that Knibb began to make her move stick, putting time into Charles-Barclay as the gaps behind started to grow. Simmonds remained prominent near the front, while Derron's challenge was hampered by a drafting penalty. Meanwhile defending champion Løvseth was pacing her ride superbly, steadily working her way through the field after reaching Hawi ninth and more than six minutes from the front.
Knibb ultimately led into T2 with a 4:40:07 bike split, 3:06 ahead of Charles-Barclay, whose determined ride kept her firmly in contention. Løvseth's measured approach paid off as she surged through the field over the final third of the bike to reach transition third, four minutes 48 seconds down. Among the dangerous runners, Derron got off the bike in eighth, 9:11 behind, with 2024 IRONMAN World Champion Laura Philipp (DEU) 10th at 9:52.
Knibb looked in control through the opening half of the marathon, pulling away from Charles-Barclay and carrying a 3 minute 12 second advantage over Løvseth through halfway. But the defending champion was coming. After passing Charles-Barclay for second beyond 15km, Løvseth steadily hunted down the American, while Philipp charged through the field behind them. Charles-Barclay’s race later came to an end, leaving the battle for the world title increasingly focused on the two women at the front.
At 34km, Løvseth finally caught and passed Knibb to take the lead, but Knibb refused to let the race go, fighting to stay on the Norwegian’s heels. Then, with less than two kilometers remaining, the race turned once more. Løvseth began to stagger and was eventually forced to the side of the road, opening the door for Knibb to run back into the lead and towards an extraordinary IRONMAN World Championship victory.
Løvseth showed a champion’s character to eventually get up and walk the final two kilometers to the finish line in eighth place, smiling and high-fiving the crowds cheering her home.
Top five professional women’s results:?
| Pos |
Name |
Swim |
Bike |
Run |
Total Time |
Pro Series Points (unofficial) |
| 1 |
Taylor Knibb (USA) |
52:55 |
4:40:07 |
2:57:46 |
8:36:29 |
6,000 |
| 2 |
Laura Philipp (DEU) |
1:00:03 |
4:43:00 |
2:50:43 |
8:39:29 |
5,816 |
| 3 |
Julie Derron (CHE) |
53:09 |
4:49:35 |
2:58:54 |
8:46:25 |
5,405 |
| 4 |
Kat Matthews (GBR) |
54:57 |
4:55:34 |
2:52:50 |
8:49:38 |
5,212 |
| 5 |
Imogen Simmonds (CHE) |
53:08 |
4:45:21 |
3:07:45 |
8:51:44 |
5,086 |
Full results for the 2026 IRONMAN World Championship can be found at www.ironman.com/races/im-world-championship-kona/results.
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For more information about the 2026 IRONMAN World Championship event, please visit www.ironman.com/races/im-world-championship-kona. To learn more about the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 brands and series of events, please visit www.ironman.com.