Real-life Superheroes: 

The Ironman Triathlon

Throughout history, athletes have shed blood, sweat, and tears competing against one another – all in hopes of being crowned the best. From the Olympics of Ancient Greece to the global sports organizations of today, competition defines so much of human culture. Icons, ranging from quarterback Tom Brady to basketball legend Lebron James – are praised for their achievements and longevity – top-tier athletes who showcase decades of dominance at the highest levels of competition, proving themselves to be amongst the best in history. 

In the quest for greatness, endurance athletes perform unthinkable feats: ultra-marathons, lengthy swims, and continental bike tours. Yet even amongst these rare few, the drive to become ‘the best’ never ends. Fierce competitors, American military couple John and Judy Collins would forever change endurance sports and global athletics in the late 1970’s. Convinced that the disciplines of running, swimming, and biking should be merged in order to single out the most dominant athletes – they engineered a triathlon of grueling proportions: the Ironman. 

Named in honor of a local fitness trainer, the first Ironman event was held in Honolulu, Hawaii, in February of 1978. Combining the Around-Oahu Bike Race, the Honolulu Marathon, and the Waikiki Roughwater Swim, this monstrous race battered competitors with a 112-mile bike ride, a 26.2-mile run, and a 2.4-mile swim. Totaling 140.6 exhausting miles, the single-day endurance challenge attracted 15 top athletes, each trying to be crowned the world’s first ‘Ironman.’ By the end, all but three participants had finished, with Gordon Haller winning first place – posting a time of 11 hours, 46 minutes, and 40 seconds. 

The following year, the event attracted almost 50 competitors and saw Lyn Lemaire place 6th, earning the first-ever title of ‘Ironwoman.’ Growing popularity led to widespread interest in this niche island challenge. As luck would have it, the acclaimed publication, Sports Illustrated, shared an Ironman feature in 1980 – broadcasting the phenomenon to a global audience. Spin-offs, like the shortened Ironman 70.3, attracted even more participants; and against all odds, Australia’s John MacLean, hand-cycled his way to an Ironman World Championship finish in 1997, opening the door for disabled athletes everywhere!  

Today, almost 500,000 individuals have shown incredible determination, completing the challenge and earning the title of Ironman / Ironwoman. While participants must be at least 18 years of age to compete, the cutoff is a staggering 90 years old! Decades after the first race, Ironman® has grown into a multi-million dollar company operating in over fifty countries – a name synonymous with excellence, sponsored by elite partners like QATAR AIR and HOKA running shoes; the sport that inspired the creation of the ‘Triathlon’ event at the 2000 Olympics remains a staple to this day. Given its notoriety and prestige, Ironman is not just a piece, but a pinnacle in the history of human perseverance.