KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) — Germany’s Sebastian Kienle won the Ironman World Championship for the first time Saturday, beating American Ben Hoffman by more than five minutes.
The 30-year-old German completed the 2.4-mile ocean swim, 112-mile bike leg and marathon run in 8 hours, 14 minutes, 18 seconds. He was 38th after the swim and took the lead for good 95 miles into the bike leg.
Kienle finished the swim in 54:38, the bike ride in 4:20.46 and the run in 2:54.36.
“I never thought I was going to win this,” said Kienle, the Ironman 70.3 winner in 2012 and 2013. “Never judge a life on one bad day. Judge it on for the best day.”
Hoffman finished in 8:19:23. Germany’s Jan Frodeno was third in 8:20:32.
Australia’s Mirinda Carfrae won the women race for the third time, finishing in 9:00.55. Also, the champion in 2010 and 2013, she failed to break the course record of 8:52.14 she set last year.
“I have no idea how I got that done. Defending is harder than anything,” Carfrae said. “Those girls are tough and I knew it would be a battle to the finish line. I’m a bit shocked I got it done.”
She swan 1:00.14, cycled 5:05.48 and ran 2:50.26.
Switzerland’s Daniela Ryf was second in 9:02:57. Britain’s Rachel Joyce was third in 9:04:23.
The winners received $120,000 each.
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