History of Triathlon

The story of how Ironman came into being has been told so many times; in so many languages across so many countries that it is practically a legend. But it is a story that grabs the imagination of everyone who hears it and leaves one in awe of the human body and spirit and its ability to endure the toll of what has become the greatest endurance race ever.

It all started in 1978 when a debate ensued around who were the fittest athletes. Where they the winners of the Waikiki Roughwater Swim (2.4 miles) or the Around-Oahu Bike Race (112 miles) or where they the marathon athletes of the Honolulu Marathon (26.2)? To settle the argument, Navy Commander John Collins and his wife Judy proposed combining all three of these races – to be run consecutively – and honouring the fittest athlete with the title of Ironman. The race tests athletes both physically and mentally over a gruelling 3.8km swim, 180km bike and finishes with a 42.2km run. 

Fifteen men participated in the initial event held on 18 February 1978; twelve completed the race led by the first Ironman, Gordon Haller. His winning time was 11:46:58. None of these men realised that they were making history that day or that for years to come tri-athletes would hold this race up as the ultimate endurance race of all time. 

The home of Ironman was Waikiki but in 1981 the race moved to the Big Island of Hawaii and has remained there ever since. To date there are 26 official qualifying Ironman races run around the world and Ironman Kona is now the World Championship Ironman event. Athletes from across the globe vie for a chance to participate in the “Ironman of all Ironman” races and the honour of taking home the title of World Champion.

From humble beginnings where athletes used what today would be called outdated equipment and had to fend for themselves while out on the course to the professionally run event of the 21st Century, Ironman has truly come of age.

Ironman 70.3 is a spin-off from this phenomenal race and tests athlete’s endurance over a 1.9km swim, 90km bike and a 21.1km run. It showcases the qualities that Ironman stands for, being: passion, performance, courage and success. It is a race, which leaves one with a newfound respect for the human spirit.

The Ironman 70.3 Series was brought into being in 2005 and was previously known as the “Half Ironman” due to the fact that the distance covered was half that of a full Ironman. 

In addition to a new global series of events, the launch of the Ironman 70.3 Series provided athletes with the unique opportunity to qualify for a World Championship at that distance. All Ironman 70.3 events would culminate at the Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Las Vegas. The first race took place in November 2006 in the beautiful city of Clearwater Florida and was won by Australian Craig Alexander in a time of 3:34:37 and Canadian Samantha McGlone in 4:12:58.

Ideally situated on the Gulf of Mexico on Florida’s West Coast, Clearwater and its island beaches are one of the state’s most popular vacation spots. Because of world-renown beaches, extensive recreational opportunities, the largest recreational fishing fleet on the West Coast of Florida, a variety of restaurants, attractions and accommodations this made Clearwater the perfect host for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. Athletes are taken on a swim in the Gulf of Mexico, a cycle throughout the City of Clearwater and surrounding Pinellas County communities and a run alongside the picturesque beaches of Clearwater.

The event started and finished at Pier 60 with a professional prize purse of $100 000. Top professional and age group athletes qualified for the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.

The new series was introduced in order to energise the competitive spirit and fully recognise the distance accomplished by the athletes.

The series launched with 16 events and kicked off in September 2005 with the U.K. Ironman 70.3. The first year of the Ironman 70.3 Series drew more than 20 000 athletes worldwide. The Ironman 70.3 Event Series continues to grow and has added several events to the 2007 calendar. The introduction of Ironman 70.3 South Africa, to be held in East London on 13 January 2008, brings the total number of events currently in the Series to 35.

World Endurance South Africa, organisers of the highly successful Spec-Savers Ironman SA, in collaboration with World Triathlon Corporation added the new race to the triathlon calendar.