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Triathlon Magazine Canada’s most read stories of 2017

Canadian Kona history, disqualifications, passings and more. The biggest news on our website in 2017.

10) Banned age-group triathlete competing under maiden name in ultra-running

Holly Balogh, an Ironman age-group champion who was banned from competition for four years after testing positive for an exogenous substance, had entered a 50-mile trail running race under a different name. The event was not governed by World Anti-Doping Agency rules. This caused outrage in the triathlon community.

9) Alistair Brownlee out of competition for rest of year

The double Olympic gold medallist announced he would be getting surgery and thus sitting out of the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Championship, which many anticipated to be an extra exciting race with his presence.

8) Lionel Sanders finishes 2nd at Ironman World Championship 

An international fan favourite and huge Canadian triathlon star, Lionel Sanders had the biggest finish of his career to date at Kona this year.

Check out our exclusive post-race videos with Sanders minutes after his finish.

7) Tim Don shatters Ironman world record in Brazil

Months after Lionel Sanders set the branded record at 2016 Ironman Arizona, Britain’s Tim Don shattered it in Brazil, indicating the Ironman world was rapidly seeing times drop and speeds get faster in the pro field like no era before.

6) Village of Pemberton won’t support renewal of Ironman Canada

The marquee Canadian race has since been renewed through 2020, but early news from a local newspaper suggested that Ironman Canada would not return to the Whistler area.

5) Tim Don out of Ironman World Championship

The reigning IM world record holder was hit by a car during the week leading up to the race, and is still recovering from severe injuries he sustained.

4) Quebec doctor dies after Ironman Mont-Tremblant 

Sad news out of this year’s race: Jean-Francois Chalifour, a well-known lung specialist who worked in the Laurentians, died after Ironman Mont-Tremblant. He was reported to have collapsed on the run.

3) Triathlon community mourns death of Ben Cotter

A well-loved triathlete from B.C. passed away at age 38. Coach Clint Lien wrote a touching tribute.

2) Top 5 first time Ironman races

We ranked these Ironmans as the “easiest” for North American triathletes.

1) Canadian age-grouper disqualified at Ironman 70.3 Syracuse

Our biggest news headline of the year came out of Ironman 70.3 Syracuse in June, when Canadian Kristen Johnson was disqualified for sabotaging another athlete in her age-group by releasing the air from he tires before the race. The event was caught camera by a spectator, and observed by the competitor’s husband. Read Johnson’s statement after the events, here.