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IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Hawaii has existed since 1978 and has stayed in 1990… he reiterated it in 1991, 92, 93 and 95,
for a while an independent event in a dreamy and is still today the most titled triathlete of this
setting, but it was very directed to the American event. This record is not going to change anytime
public… In 1990, the event took a new dimension soon regarding the current density and the ever-
with the creation of the WTC and the takeover growing performances in this race. Hawaii is the
of the race. The WTC created to IRONMAN Mecca of triathlon, the Grail for professional and
circuit with a concept of qualification throughout age-group triathletes, this is the race of the season,
the world, which put an end to the American the #1 goal for many triathletes.
domination… well, not really… Mark Allen was
the winner of the last triathlon of Hawaii in 1989 In 1996, finally, a European won for the first time
and of the first World Championships in Kona the IM World Championships, with the victory
of the Belgian Luc Van Lierde (who won again in Then in 2014, Sebastian Kienle broke this period
1999). and won the title. Since then, the title of World
Champion has only been achieved by Germans;
Germany had to wait for 1997 to win its first title, which could make its neighbors jealous with only
with the victory of Thomas Hellriegel. Seven years 3 victories for Belgium (Luc Van Lierde in 1996
later, another German managed to be at the top and 1999 and Frederik Van Lierde in 2013). Yves
of the IM international hierarchy, in 2004, with Cordier, René Rovera, Patrick Vernay and François
the victory of Norman Stadler. Germany began its Chabaud… so many French athletes who tried the
sequence of IM victories with Faris Al Sultan the IM adventure and who could only be “the best
next year and again Stadler in 2006. Then, nothing French performance on the IM World Champs”.
during 8 years, despite a few podiums (Raelert and Today, Cyril Viennot is the one who holds this
Kienle). “title” with his 6th place in 2015. This year, the
French was unlucky with a sunstroke during the
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