Nearly 2,000 competitors enter Kailua Bay at sunrise to start the swim. The Hawaiian Ironman World Championships is a grueling annual triathlon comprising a 3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bicycle race and a 42.195 km marathon with a strict 17-hour time limit. Competitors must endure scorching temperatures and crosswinds of up to 70 kph.

Competitors swim over a coral reef. The Hawaiian Ironman World Championships is a grueling annual triathlon comprising a 3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bicycle race and a 42.195 km marathon with a strict 17-hour time limit. Competitors must endure scorching temperatures and crosswinds of up to 70 kph.

Competitors leave the water to prepare for the cycling leg of the event. The Hawaiian Ironman World Championships is a grueling annual triathlon comprising a 3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bicycle race and a 42.195 km marathon with a strict 17-hour time limit. Competitors must endure scorching temperatures and crosswinds of up to 70 kph.

Tamas Fekete, 65, of Germany, cycles through lava fields on the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway, western Hawaii. The Hawaiian Ironman World Championships is a grueling annual triathlon comprising a 3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bicycle race and a 42.195 km marathon with a strict 17-hour time limit. Competitors must endure scorching temperatures and crosswinds of up to 70 kph.

Professional triathlete Andy Potts of the USA cycles through crosswinds. He finished 9th overall. The Hawaiian Ironman World Championships is a grueling annual triathlon comprising a 3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bicycle race and a 42.195 km marathon with a strict 17-hour time limit. Competitors must endure scorching temperatures and crosswinds of up to 70 kph.

A competitor cycles past a dinosaur lava sculpture on the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway, western Hawaii. The Hawaiian Ironman World Championships is a grueling annual triathlon comprising a 3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bicycle race and a 42.195 km marathon with a strict 17-hour time limit. Competitors must endure scorching temperatures and crosswinds of up to 70 kph.

Rudy Garcia-Tolson, 21, missed the time limit in the cycle leg and so was not allowed to begin the marathon, but the Paralympic gold medalist was previously the first amputee to finish the Ironman triathlon. The Hawaiian Ironman World Championships is a grueling annual triathlon comprising a 3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bicycle race and a 42.195 km marathon with a strict 17-hour time limit.

German Stefan Werner, 33, finished first in his age-group division among non-professional competitors in the cycling leg. The Hawaiian Ironman World Championships is a grueling annual triathlon comprising a 3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bicycle race and a 42.195 km marathon with a strict 17-hour time limit. Competitors must endure scorching temperatures and crosswinds of up to 70 kph.

Lifeguard Simon Billeau of France runs shortly after making the turn-around for the marathon. The Hawaiian Ironman World Championships is a grueling annual triathlon comprising a 3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bicycle race and a 42.195 km marathon with a strict 17-hour time limit. Competitors must endure scorching temperatures and crosswinds of up to 70 kph.

A competitor pours water on his head to cool down during the marathon leg of the triathlon. The Hawaiian Ironman World Championships is a grueling annual triathlon comprising a 3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bicycle race and a 42.195 km marathon with a strict 17-hour time limit. Competitors must endure scorching temperatures and crosswinds of up to 70 kph.

American Sean Cleary, 50, runs into the night on the marathon leg. The Hawaiian Ironman World Championships is a grueling annual triathlon comprising a 3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bicycle race and a 42.195 km marathon with a strict 17-hour time limit. Competitors must endure scorching temperatures and crosswinds of up to 70 kph.

British Chrissie Wellington crosses the finish line. Her time of 8:54.02 broke the women's record, which had been in place for 17 years, by nearly a minute. The Hawaiian Ironman World Championships is a grueling annual triathlon comprising a 3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bicycle race and a 42.195 km marathon with a strict 17-hour time limit. Competitors must endure scorching temperatures and crosswinds of up to 70 kph.

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