Australia’s Pete Jacobs won the Ironman world championship Saturday, beating Germany’s Andreas Raelert by more than 4 minutes.
The 31-year-old Jacobs, second last year, finished the 3.8-kilometre ocean swim in Kailua Bay, 178-kiometer bike ride through the scorching lava fields along the Kohala Coast and 42-kilometre run through Kailua Village and out onto Queen Kaahumanu Highway in 8 hours, 18 minutes, 37 seconds.
“I’m in love with this sport,” Jacobs said moments after winning. “I’m so lucky to have this opportunity and have a good day out there. It was an unbelievable day and there’s much love out there.”
Jacobs was second off bike, more than 8 minutes behind Belgium’s Marino Vanhoenacker, and passed Vanhoenacker with little more than 16 kilometres (10 miles) left in the marathon. The winner earned $120,000.
The 36-year-old Raelert has his third top-three finish in four years. He finished in 8:23:40.
Belgium’s Frederik Van Lierde was third in 8:24:09.