While a lot of eyes where on the start-to-finish victory of 30-year-old British triathlete Lucy Charles-Barkley at the 2023 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii (see one of her pre-race videos below), I was particularly impressed with the entire field of 2,216 female triathletes from teenagers to septuagenarians on the swim leg.
Every one of the triathletes – even though for most, swimming is their least favorite and most difficult discipline – completed the 3.9 km ocean swim course under the time limit of 2 hours 20 minutes. That 100% success rate is extremely impressive for any triathlon or open water swim.
What I especially appreciated is that the women in the triathlon community were extremely supportive of each other before the race and throughout the week in Kona. They shared swimming tips and worries with one another.
Additionally, the organizers offered a Live Aloha Coffee Boat where everyone could casually swim up to a catamaran moored along the race course and enjoy a morning swim and coffee while chatting and becoming acclimated to the conditions. This is a great pre-race offering that apparently put many at ease and something that the global open water swimming community could consider doing for their community.
Charles-Barkley’s 49 minute 36 second swim leg was the class of the field, but having 2,216 women go under the cut-off time was equally impressive.
For more information and photographs, visit @ironmantri.
© 2023 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
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