Ironman Kona documentary airs this Sunday on NBC

Those looking to relive the exciting two-days of racing at the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii this year will want to tune in to NBC this Sunday, Nov. 27 at 2 to 3:30 pm EST when Ironman will air its “documentary” from the event.

“The documentary special also showcases the iconic endurance event’s change to a two-day format for the first time in history, providing for focused female and male racing and allowing more opportunities for inspiring stories to be told of both professional and age-group athletes competing in the prestigious triathlon that took place this past Oct. 6 and 8, 2022,” Ironman wrote in a press release today. “The documentary special will also be made available globally on the Ironman YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/ironmantriathlon following its airing on NBC.”

Many credit the television coverage of the iconic race in Kona for the popularity of Ironman racing around the world. The riveting footage of Julie Moss crawling to the line that appeared on ABC’s Wide World of Sports captivated the interest of sports fans. Since 1991 the show has appeared on NBC and has earned 68 Sports Emmy nominations and earned 16 Sports Emmy Award wins.

According to Ironman, in addition to the coverage of the pro races from this year’s race, other features include:

• Just 18 months after giving birth to her daughter, professional triathlete Chelsea Sodaro aims to become the first American woman to win the Ironman World Championship in over 25 years.
• Two young Norwegians at the top of the sport, Olympic Gold Medalist and reigning Ironman World Champion Kristian Blummenfelt and Ironman 70.3 World Champion Gustav Iden, go head-to-head for World Championship supremacy in their debut appearances in Hawai`i.
• Veteran professional Tim O’Donnell returns to the pinnacle of competition only 15 months after suffering a heart attack
• Chris Nikic a 22-year-old who made history by becoming the first person with Down syndrome to complete a full-distance Ironman triathlon in November of 2020, looks to spread his message to others to be 1% better every single day in every aspect of life. Chris along with his guide, fellow triathlete and friend Dan Grieb, undertake his next big challenge in finish the iconic Ironman World Championship race in Kona.
• After numerous appearances and 13 age group titles over the years, Cherie Gruenfeld looks to go out on top as the oldest female athlete to ever finish the Ironman World Championship, proving age is truly just a number.
• Seriously injured in the 2016 Brussels Bombing, former professional Belgian National Team basketball player Sebastien Bellin, shares his journey from victim to survivor, overcoming his new physical ailments by finishing triathlon’s biggest test.
• “Super” Sam Holness continues making his mark as the world’s first openly autistic endurance athlete to take on the iconic Ironman World Championship just a month after becoming the first person with autism to complete a full-distance triathlon at Mainova Ironman European Championship Frankfurt.
• Australian Paralympic triathlon silver-medalist Lauren Parker competes in her third World Championship event in just over a year, and returns to Hawai`i to compete in the Ironman World Championship for the first time since suffering a bike crash that paralyzed her at the peak of her career.
• Mother and daughter special team Beth & Liza James, aka Team Liza, who 16 years ago were in a severe car accident that left Liza with a traumatic brain injury, return to Kona in their quest to make Ironman history by becoming the first mother-daughter special team duo to complete the iconic Ironman World Championship triathlon.