Photos Capture Ironman Swim In Kailua Bay, Kona

Big Island Video News

Oct 14, 2023

STORY SUMMARY

KONA, Hawaiʻi - The 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Kona kicked-off just after dawn on Saturday morning, starting with the 2.4-mile ROKA Swim Course.

IN THE DEEP BLUE SEA: Age-group athletes embark on the 2.4-mile (3.8km) ROKA swim course as the fish below get a front row seat (Photo Credit: Donald Miralle for IRONMAN)

(BIVN) – Over 2,000 women dove into the waters of Kailua Bay in Kona on Saturday morning, kicking off the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN® World Championship triathlon.

The Ironman media team captured the imagery of the opening leg of the race: the 2.4-mile (3.8km) ROKA Swim Course.

CLOUD VIEW: Athletes power through the 2.4 miles (3.8km) ROKA Swim Course in Kailua Bay at the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon. (Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

“For the first time in the event’s 40-plus year history, the women’s field has their own dedicated race in historic location of Kailua-Kona Hawai`i after the men’s race took place on September 10 in Nice, France,” the Ironman team wrote.

After the swim, the triathletes will have a 112-mile bike course and a 26.2-mile run ahead of them.

LEADER OF THE PACK: Lucy Charles Barclay (GBR) is first out of the water and onto the bike, with a 1.29 minute lead on USA’s Haley Chrua. (Sean Haffey/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

About The Featured Image

JUST KEEP SWIMMING: The sun rises and the cannon goes off to mark the start of the historic 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship which will see over 2,000 athletes in the first ever women’s only race. (Photo Credit: Sean Haffey/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

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