Neumann fourth as Ironman record smashed

Roger Vaughan | October 9, 2022

Max Neumann paid a high price for his outstanding Hawaiian Ironman debut, waking up in the medical tent afterwards with two intravenous drips in his arms.

The Australian triathlete finished fourth in a landmark performance as benign conditions on the bike led to a slew of records by the top men.

Norwegian winner Gustav Iden destroyed the course record by 10 minutes on Sunday (AEDT) and the top four – all first-time competitors at the Hawaiian Ironman world championships – bettered the old mark.

While the usual gusty winds were absent from the bike leg, the Hawaiian Ironman’s brutal heat still took its toll.

Neumann and third-placed Norwegian Kristian Blummenfelt were stretchered from the finish at Kailua-Kona on Hawaii’s main island after they collapsed from dehydration.

“It was hot today, really hot. I’ve never had that feeling before. It was pretty crazy,” Neumann told AAP.

“I just went numb. I lost 5kg of water.

“I’ve come around, but it’s been two-and-a-half hours since the race.”

Iden won in seven hours 40 minutes 24 seconds over the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km marathon run course.

Sam Laidlow of France was second with 7:42:24 and Blummenfelt, the Tokyo Olympics triathlon champion, completed the podium in 7:43:23.

Neumann was fourth off the bike and held his place to finish in 7:44:44, leaving the 27-year-old with mixed emotions.

“You always want to be on the podium, especially at Kona. I tried my best, I dug in,” he said.

“Kristian dug in too – that bloke’s as hard as nails.

“If anyone is going to be able to hold on in the last 5km when he’s absolutely knackered, it’s going to be Krisitian.

“I tried, I didn’t succeed, but there’s probably another 10 attempts at this race for me.”

It is the first time Neumann has been to Kona, let alone competed in triathlon’s most famous race, but the Brisbane triathlete honed his craft with wins at the last three Cairns Ironman races.

It is the best Australian men’s result since Luke McKenzie finished second in 2013.

An Australian has not won Kona since Mirinda Carfrae snared her third title in 2014, while Pete Jacobs was the most recent men’s champion in 2012.

The old course record was 7:51:13, set by German Jan Frodeno set in 2019.

Iden is the first man to win Hawaii on debut since Belgian Luc Van Lierde in 1996.

Dave Scott, the American legend who won six times, is the only other man to achieve the feat, in 1980.

American Chelsea Sodaro also won the women’s title on debut two days ago as Australian Sarah Crowley finished seventh..

Australian Cameron Wurf, who finished fifth in 2019, took 11th place in 8:00:51.

The Hawaii race returned for the first time since 2019 because of COVID-19.

The event was also held over two days for the first time in its 44-year history, with the age groupers split between Friday and Sunday.