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Photo Gallery: Inaugural Ironman Israel in words and pictures

Ironman's first full-distance event in Israel turned out to be a record-breaking day

Photo by: Ingo Kutsche
November 29, 2022
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The inaugural Ironman Middle East Championship took place in Tiberias, Israel last Friday. Beginning with a 3.8 km swim in the lowest freshwater lake in the world – the Sea of Galilee is 209 m below sea level – the race also includes a relatively flat bike course followed by a four-loop run course along the western shore of the lake.

Related: Astle bounces back from disappointing Kona to take Ironman Israel win

Related: Patrick Lange rips through 2:30 marathon to win Ironman Israel

German photographer Ingo Kutsche was on hand to capture the day of racing:

They’re off! The pros left in one start, while the age group athletes had a rolling start. Photo: Ingo Kutsche
All smiles before the age group start. Photo: Ingo Kutsche
Germany’s Daniela Bleymehl was 11th on to the bike course. Photo: Ingo Kutsche
Daniel Baekkegard was in second place off the bike. Photo: Ingo Kutsche
Great Britain’s Ruth Astle dominated the bike with a 4:34 split. Photo: Ingo Kutsche
There was lots of support out on the course with both a 70.3 and full-distance race going on. Photo: Ingo Kutsche
After a dominating bike, Astle stayed out in front through the run. Photo: Ingo Kutsche
Meanwhile … Patrick Lange was putting on a show out on the run course, with Gregory Barnaby trying to keep up. Photo: Ingo Kutsche
Great Britain’s Susie Cheetham was third off the bike, but would lose a spot during the marathon and end up fourth. Photo: Ingo Kutsche
Denmark’s Maya Stage-Nielsen had a solid day and ended up fifth. Photo: Ingo Kutsche
Racing and supporting! Photo: Ingo Kutsche
Lange’s 2:30 marathon split is the fastest ever run in an Ironman. Photo: Ingo Kutsche
2014 Ironman world champion Sebastian Kienle had a tough day, but still managed to get across the line in 12th. Photo: Ingo Kutsche
Astle was all smiles after her third Ironman win. Photo: Ingo Kutsche
He might not have been racing, but it’s hard for Alistair Brownlee to go unnoticed! Photo: Ingo Kutsche