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Ironman World Championship Wrap – Ryf is back, romps to fifth title

Swiss star back to dominating form at the Ironman World Championship St. George

Photo by: Kevin Mackinnon

The day belonged to Switzerland’s Daniela Ryf as she took home her fiftth Ironman World Championship title. Great Britain’s Kat Matthews and Germany’s Anne Haug rounded out the podium.

For Ryf it’s been a challenging few years – after taking her fifth Ironman 70.3 world title in 2019, she was sick and would finish well back at the last Ironman World Championship race in Kona. COVID sidelined her in 2020, then she left her long-time coach Brett Sutton and seemingly wasn’t competing at the same level. After a disappointing race at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in St. George last year, Ryf said she was heading home to “fix” herself.

That fix was on display today as Ryf returned to the winning ways that we were used to seeing, taking her 10th Ironman title today, making it an even five and five for both the 70.3 and full-distance.

Ryf didn’t quite lead the entire way – ou of the water it was American Haley Chura who pulled clear by by close to two minutes, with Great Britain’s Fenella Langridge and Sweden’s Lisa Norden next out of the water.

By kilometer 62 of the bike, though, it was Ryf who had moved to the front of the race, which is exactly where she stayed for the rest of the day. Off the bike the Swiss star Ryf led Matthews by over seven minutes, and she would go on to extend that lead at the finish stopping the clock in 08:34:59. Matthews came in second at 08:43:49, with Haug taking the final podium spot in 08:47:03.

Stay tuned for more coverage from today’s race.