Solveig Løvseth conquers Kona in her debut and achieves a Norwegian double at the 2025 IRONMAN World Championships.
Norwegian triathlete Solveig Løvseth has been crowned world champion. HOMBRE DE HIERRO 2025 in her Kona debut, scoring a historic victory that confirms Norway's dominance in the long distance.
A dream premiere under the heat of Hawaii
On October 11, 2025, Kona once again became the stage where triathlon history was written.
On a day marked by the heat and humidity typical of Hawaii, Solveig Løvseth (NOR) surprised the world imposing in his first IRONMAN World Championship with a time of 8:28:27, adding her name to a legendary list of champions.
The Norwegian held firm as the big favorites, Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) y Taylor Knibb (USA), suffered the harsh conditions of the marathon and dropped out in the final kilometers. At the finish line, the debutant was emotional and sincere:
“I didn't know if I could make it to the finish. It was really tough, but I stayed calm. When I passed Taylor, I realized I could win if I did everything right. It's a dream come true,” Løvseth said after crossing the finish line.
The victory gives the Norwegian $125.000 of prize and 6.000 points in the classification of the IRONMAN Pro Series 2025, where it still has a chance of winning the final title.
A race of endurance and strategy
The day started in Kailua Bay with the usual aquatic dominance of Lucy Charles-Barclay, who came out of the water in the lead with 49:29, maintaining her reputation as the best swimmer on the circuit.
Behind her, Hayley Chura (USA) led a chasing group that included Taylor Knibb, Chelsea Sodaro y Holly Lawrence, while in a third group powerful cyclists worked like Laura Philipp, Kat matthews, Marjolaine Pierre and the own Lovseth.
In the cycling segment, Knibb She took control after catching Charles-Barclay on the climb to Hawi. The Briton was penalized one minute for littering, which allowed the American to open up a gap. Behind her, Løvseth began her progression, climbing positions to third at kilometer 70.
Halfway through the journey, Chelsea Sodaro —the 2022 champion— was forced to retire due to stomach problems, while Knibb maintained a relentless pace.
Løvseth completed the sector in 4:31:53, entering T2 just over a minute and a half behind the lead. Charles-Barclay She came in second, but the hardness of the day was beginning to take its toll.
Dramatic marathon and historic finale
The walking section offered the most unexpected outcome. Knibb She set off at a steady pace down Ali'i Drive, followed by Charles-Barclay, who soon caught up with her before Palani Hill. The two alternated at the front until the exhausted Briton dropped out at kilometer 27. Knibb remained alone in the lead, but the Norwegian was constantly reducing the lead.
With less than five kilometers to go, Knibb began to walk, visibly affected by the heat. Løvseth seized the moment, overcame it and launched himself towards the ultimate victory.
From behind, Kat matthews made a spectacular comeback, recording the best marathon in history in Kona (2:47:23), but it wasn't enough: he crossed the finish line just 35 seconds away from Norway, signing the third closest finish in the history of the IRONMAN World Championship.
Laura Philipp completed the podium, consolidating his consistency in major events.
Results – IRONMAN World Championship 2025 (Kona)
| Job title | Athlete | Country | Swimming | Cycling | Career | Total time |
| 1 | Solveig Lovseth | NOR | 55:40 | 4:31:53 | 2:55:47 | 8:28:27 |
| 2 | Kat matthews | GBR | 55:43 | 4:40:08 | 2:47:23 | 8:29:02 |
| 3 | Laura Philipp | DEU | 55:50 | 4:40:26 | 2:55:53 | 8:37:28 |
| 4 | Hannah Berry | NZL | 52:02 | 4:44:37 | 3:04:32 | 8:46:25 |
| 5 | Lisa Perterer | TUE | 55:41 | 4:40:50 | 3:06:03 | 8:48:08 |
Løvseth, the fourth Norwegian champion in her debut
With this victory, Solveig Løvseth becomes the fourth Norwegian in winning the IRONMAN World Championship in his first participation, following in the footsteps of Kristian Blummenfelt (2021), Gustav Iden (2022) y Casper Stornes (2025).
Furthermore, 2025 marks the second consecutive year in which the same country wins both categories of the IRONMAN World Championship:
- 2024 → Germany (Laura Philipp and Patrick Lange)
- 2025 → Norway (Løvseth and Stornes)
The Nordic champion also achieved one of the fastest debuts in Kona history (8:28:27), just four minutes above the overall women's record on the circuit, set by Lucy Charles-Barclay (8:24:31 in 2023).
A new stage in the fight for the Pro Series
Victory in Kona places Løvseth as second in the IRONMAN Pro Series 2025 rankings with 20.018 points, only 827 behind Kat Matthews (20.845 pts).
Both will play for the final title in the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Marbella 2025, where there is still 3.000 points in dispute.
If Løvseth manages to finish within 100 seconds of Matthews, he could snatch the championship, turning the Andalusian event into a true season finale.
Prizes and financial distribution
The organization confirmed a total prize of $2,45 million distributed among the Pro Series events.
In Kona, the women's top 5 was divided as follows:
| Position | Athlete | Premio |
| 1 | Solveig Løvseth (NOR) | $125.000 |
| 2 | Kat Matthews (GBR) | $65.000 |
| 3 | Laura Philipp (DEU) | $45.000 |
| 4 | Hannah Berry (NZL) | $25.000 |
| 5 | Lisa Perterer (AUT) | $20.000 |
Kona shines again with Norwegian history
The 2025 IRONMAN World Championships returns to Kona for its epic story. In an edition where humidity and heat once again took center stage, Løvseth's victory represents a new generation of Nordic athletes mastering the long distance.
The Norwegian double, combined with the record-breaking finish and the thrilling finish, confirms that world triathlon is experiencing a historic moment and that the fight for the Pro Series will have an exciting conclusion in Marbella.
