Taylor Knibb first came to Kona as a 12 year-old girl to watch her mom race. She noticed a helicopter flies just ahead of the leader and it became her dream to someday be the athlete chasing it.
Last year, that dream came true. But she pushed her body so hard in the pursuit of the win that about 5 miles from the finish, it had nothing left to give. The helicopter flew away.
This year, she returned, her mom by her side. Determined to make it to the finish line.
It was a tough day in Kona. Big swells on the swim. Drizzle, wind, heat. But this time, when Taylor felt that itch to push, Kona legend Paula Newby-Fraser’s advice rang clear in her head, like Yoda appearing to Luke: Take care of yourself.
She walked the aid stations. She took in fluids. She let go of that need to chase, and raced her way.
When the helicopter announced her approach to the finish line, the crowd went crazy. Her mom was the first to embrace her, a moment 16 years in the making.
Taylor became the champion her 12 year-old self would’ve loved.
And, of course, the world loves her, too.
CONGRATULATIONS TAYLOR!!!
How the race played out
Just 4 weeks after winning her fourth IRONMAN 70.3 world title, Taylor won Kona – making her one of only three women in the world to have won both the IRONMAN and 70.3 World Championships in the same year. (The other two: Leanda Cave in 2012, and Daniela Ryf in 2015, 2017, and 2018.)
Taylor executed an incredible race on a hot and sometimes drizzly day in Kona, balancing on that razor’s edge between blasting through the course and blowing up.
She came second out of the water to mermaid, Lucy Charles-Barclay, in 52:55, then battled on the bike with LCB before pulling 3 minutes ahead with the fastest women’s bike split of the day in 4:40:07.
The race seemed poised to come down to a run-off between Taylor and Lucy – just like in 2025. But the island had other plans.
Lucy raced courageously and gave Kona everything she had, but couldn’t continue past mile 17.
Taylor forged on, leading the run until about 8K to go. Then the race got insane.
Taylor slowed, and Norway’s Solveig Løvseth passed her – just as she did last year. Then, in a reversal no one saw coming, Solveig collapsed to the ground – just like Taylor did last year – with about 1K to go.
Solveig was able to grit out the last kilometer with a walk, while Taylor summoned a final burst of energy, keeping a quick clip to run a 2:57:46 for the win – and absolute redemption – in 8:36:29.
“I’m in shock,” Taylor said at the finish. “I can’t believe it, and I’m just so grateful!”
Laura Philipp Takes 2nd!
Just behind Taylor, another incredible finish was playing out.
Laura Philipp, 2024 IRONMAN World Champ, battled seasickness and came out of the swelly water in 23rd, and off the bike nearly 10 minutes behind Taylor. But she trusted herself and quickly started to pick off everyone in front of her on the run, executing a spectacularly-paced marathon in 2:50:43 for second place. Her final time: 8:39:34
“I don’t have a second-place medal yet,” she joked at the finish. (Laura has won once, and come in third 2x, and fourth 2x.)
BRAVO LAURA!!
The Men's Wild Race
The excitement and drama came for the men's race, too, with several lead reversals as athletes went for glory, then the sweaty heat and wind changed their plans. Each athlete had moments of awesome, worthy of a salute:
* In a powerful, relentless, and gritty race, Sam Long claimed 6th place in his pro Kona debut. He last raced on the island as an age grouper in 2015, taking 6th in the M18-24 AG.
* Marten Van Riel was first out of the water in 48:17. He was among the top contenders on the bike until his guts started rejecting food – the case for many athletes that day – ultimately derailing his podium chances. But he never gave up, honored the island, and finished his race.
* Jonas Schomburg led the bike until cramps literally cramped his style. But he rallied and ran a well-paced marathon for a hard-fought 7th place.
* Magnus Ditlev looked poised to win the entire thing, pushing his body as hard as he could until it ran out of gas. Vincent Luis passed for the win with less than 5 miles to go, while Magnus valiantly pushed forward until, with just a few kilometers left, he could no longer continue.
ROKA STNDRD Racing Wins!
Shoutouts to two RSR teammates who took AG World Champ titles:
Bryce Morrison won M25-29 and came in 8th overall amateur in 8:41:08. His speedy splits: 58:51, 4:34:34 bike, and a 2:59:54 run
Sharon Schmidt-Mongrain won W50-54 in an incredible 10:12:01, with a 1:07:47 swim, 5:22:19 bike, and 3:32:42 run.
LET’S GO RSR!
We are so proud to support so many incredible pros, the RSR team, and all the amazing athletes brave enough to toe the Kona start line.
