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BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
British pair win as Swansea hosts UK's first ever IRONMAN Pro Series edition
There was double success for Great Britain as over 2,000 athletes descended on Swansea to take on a gruelling 70.3-mile pair Harry Palmer and Kat Matthews claimed victories in the professional field of the UK's first-ever IRONMAN Pro Series third edition of the event included a 1.2-mile swim in Prince of Wales Dock, a 56-mile bike course through the coastal roads and countryside of Gower, and a 13.1-mile run along the air temperatures soaring above 28°C, and water temperatures exceeding 24°C, race organisers ruled the professional swim non-wetsuit, as it surpassed the wetsuit-legal limit. It marked the first time elite athletes in the Ironman Pro Series have raced under such conditions in the champion Palmer claimed back-to-back victories in Swansea, taking the overall Pro Series win in a time of 3:51:18. Just 49 seconds separated him from training partner, France's Leon Chevalier as fellow Brit Kieran Lindars claimed third place. "It was hot, and I do feel for all the age-groupers who are out there today, because they've got much harder conditions than we did, so fair play to everyone racing," Palmer told BBC Sport Wales."I didn't have the best swim, I'll be honest. I was in the second or third pack back, so I had some work to do on the bike."I came out [of the swim] with the likes of Will Crudgington, Freddie Webb, Malachi Cashmore, some other boys, and Kristian Høgenhaug, who was one of the guys I was keeping an eye on. "He's an epic rider who likes to get on the front of the bike, so I felt I was in good company."My favourite part is the support."The course is amazing, especially with weather like this, and the Gower is incredible. "But it's the people — it's the Welsh. They just know how to put on an event and how to support. I'll keep coming back to Welsh events because of that." Overall Ironman Pro Series 2024 winner Matthews, claimed victory in Swansea with a time of 4:20:37. Britain's Rebecca Anderbury and Danila Kleiser of Germany completed the podium, finishing second and third in the female professional race respectively."Three years feels like a lifetime. A lot has happened since then," Matthews, who last won in Swansea in 2022, said."I feel like a completely different person, and it felt like a different event this time around."I didn't have as much deficit coming out of the swim as I expected, so I was really motivated to attack at the start of the bike and catch the girls at the front."I was happy to see them quite quickly and pull them back, but then suddenly I was on my own at the front. It was quite nice to feel in control until the run, when I felt a bit hot." Thousands of supporters and volunteers lined the 70-mile course, providing encouragement and welfare support throughout the over half of the age-group field tackling their first IRONMAN 70.3, it was a day to remember for both competitors and their Director Rebecca Sutherland said "It's always great fun when we go racing in Swansea, and this year was no different."It was another incredible race with thousands of athletes crossing the famous red carpet finish line to rapturous spectator support."The race is set to return to the coastal city next summer for the fourth edition of the event.
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Swansea Ironman 70.3 best pictures as thousands brave heat to complete epic challenge
Hundreds of people took to Swansea Bay during the hottest weekend of the year for a gruelling Ironman 70.3 on Sunday. As temperatures reached 30C 2,500 athletes took part in the event on Sunday which involves a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike ride and a 13.1 mile run. Harry Palmer retained his Ironman 70.3 title in the men's race while Kat Matthews claimed her second Ironman Pro Series win of the season in the women's section. Thousands of spectators lined the route along the bay to cheer on the athletes in the stunning location from the marina to the Gower. Palmer, who finished the race with a time of 3:51:18, said at the finish line: "It's pretty surreal. I don't feel like it's sunk in yet. I'm just in a lot of pain right now. "That was amazing. I feel like the spectators were even better than last year which I didn't think was possible. It was pretty epic. "It was only until the last 100 metres where I thought: 'Oh wow, I'm actually winning here.' I didn't want to allow myself to enjoy it too much as I knew the guys behind me were chasing hard and they're amazing athletes." Matthews, who finished in 4:20:37, said the race was challenging in the heat as she thanked spectators. "Thank you so much to every single person who cheered for me and for everyone else," she said. "It was fantastic. It was honestly blissful until about 4k into the run and then I thought: 'Goodness, the sun's pretty hot down here on the beach." Outside the top spots there were plenty of notable athletes in the race including former pro Welsh rugby international Shane Williams who ticked off another Ironman event as he completed the race in 5:26:00. Also running was Owen 'Pedz' Peddle who has gained a tremendous following on social media with his journey from not being able to swim the length of a swimming pool to completing the Ironman event today. Roared on by his many fans, the DJ from Newport, who said he did the event to do something he couldn't have previously done and to "lose a bit of weight", finished the course in 8:32:00. He said: "The last nine months of my life have been mental, actually mental. Dragging myself from where I started to where I am now has been a hell of a journey and I couldn't be prouder of where I am right now." You can read his story here. Scroll through the gallery below to see our best pictures from a brilliant event.
