The highly anticipated 2025 IRONMAN World Championship documentary special is now live on IRONMAN YouTube Channel. The annual documentary special chronicles triathlon’s pinnacle event and captures the final year of the unique dual venue format of the men’s race in Nice, France (Sept. 14) and women’s race in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i (Oct. 11).
With just over three months to go until the IRONMAN World Championship returns to a single-day format in Kona, this year’s documentary relives the drama, emotion and historic performances that defined the final year of the dual-venue format. Featuring thrilling professional battles, dramatic lead changes, inspiring age-group journeys, and exclusive behind-the-scenes access across Nice and Kona, the film offers a powerful reminder of what makes the IRONMAN World Championship one of the most iconic and inspiring events in sport—and a taste of the excitement that awaits in Kona this October.
Viewers will follow the sport’s fastest professional men as they take on the epic, technical, and brutal course in Nice, France – where cycling strength and precision are paramount – and the world’s best female triathletes as they face the heat, wind, lava fields, and pressure of triathlon’s most storied venue: Kona, Hawai`i.
Alongside the professional battles that shaped two of the most compelling races in recent history, the documentary also highlights age‑group athletes from across the world who arrived with a shared purpose: to test their limits and show the world how far they can go.
Below is a look at the feature stories for the 2025 IRONMAN World Championship documentary special.
Featured Professional Athletes
- Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR)
The reigning Kona champion and one of the sport’s most recognizable frontrunners, Charles-Barclay built further momentum through the 2025 season with consistent performances. After years of near misses followed by her breakthrough victory in 2023, she returns to the Island ready to implement her signature fearless racing style.
- Taylor Knibb (USA)
In only her third IRONMAN triathlon appearance, Knibb brings rare speed and power to the World Championship stage. With all eyes focused on Kona in 2025, she arrives on the Big Island continuing her rapid ascent toward long course greatness.
- Solveig Løvseth (NOR)
A breakout long-course talent, Løvseth arrives in Kona after a defining 2025 season highlighted by her maiden IRONMAN win in Lake Placid. With strong, balanced racing and rapid progression at the distance, she makes her IRONMAN World Championship debut ready to test herself on triathlon’s most iconic course.
- Kat Matthews (GBR)
Known for her world-class run and consistency across long-course racing, Matthews returns to Kona after twice finishing second at the IRONMAN World Championship and stacking more podium results through 2024–2025. With another strong season behind her, she lines up determined to deliver the complete Kona performance she’s long been chasing.
- Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR)
One of the most accomplished triathletes in the world, Blummenfelt added two more IRONMAN triathlon wins to his résumé in 2025. Already an Olympic gold medalist, IRONMAN World Champion, and IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion, the Norwegian lands in Nice ready to showcase his trademark aggression and a proven ability to rise to the occasion on triathlon’s biggest stages.
- Gustav Iden (NOR)
The 2022 IRONMAN World Champion enters Nice with renewed focus after showing flashes of his former dominance throughout the 2025 season. With a decorated history that includes two IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship titles, including one in Nice, he remains one of the sport’s most dangerous big race athletes when on form.
- Sam Laidlow (FRA)
Laidlow, France’s first IRONMAN World Champion, returns to his home course where he made history in 2023. With a strong 2025 campaign marked by consistent performances, can he once again bring his front pack swim strength and powerful bike leg to Nice?
- Casper Stornes (NOR)
One third of the Norwegian ‘hype train’, Stornes continues to build momentum in long-course racing. After a strong 2025 season showcasing his tactical strength and bike power, the IRONMAN World Championship rookie is looking to carve out his own chapter in Nice.
Featured Age-Group Athletes
- Luke Ambler & Jonny Mason (Halifax, UK)
Founders and advocates behind ANDYSMANCLUB, one of the UK’s fastest growing suicide prevention charities for men. In 2025, Luke – a former professional rugby player – and longtime friend Jonny undertook Mission Possible, completing every UK IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 event to raise awareness and support for men’s mental health. Both race in honor of loved ones lost to suicide, inspiring thousands with their message of hope and resilience.
- Colleen Brown (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA)
Widow of Kyle Brown, whose ALS journey moved millions. Colleen completed her first IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon in 2025, rolling across the finish line in tribute to Kyle’s iconic gesture inspired by Jon Blais. Now, she carries Kyle’s legacy to Kona in the most powerful way possible – by racing.
- Natalie Grabow (Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, USA)
At 80 years old, Natalie became the oldest female finisher in IRONMAN World Championship history, completing the 2025 race in 16:45:26. She was greeted at the line by previous record holder and IRONMAN Hall of Famer Cherie Gruenfeld, a true celebration of two pioneering women of endurance sport.
- Luke Hopkins (Austin, Texas, USA)
A personal trainer, professional bodybuilder, hybrid athlete, and content creator who turned adversity into purpose. After completing IRONMAN Wisconsin in 2024 and qualifying for the IRONMAN World Championship, Luke arrives in Nice to continue sharing his journey with a global community – and encouraging others to chase the joy found in hard goals.
- Tamsin Horne (Kerikeri, New Zealand)
A mother of two and personal trainer who survived an AVM brain bleed, chronic epilepsy, PTSD, and six major surgeries. Told she’d never run long distances; Tamsin found healing through movement. In 2025 she finished fourth in her age group at ANZCO Foods IRONMAN New Zealand, qualifying for Kona – embodying the year’s IRONMAN World Championship theme: resilience.
Captured by the IRONMAN Productions® team across both World Championship host cities, the 2025 IRONMAN World Championship documentary special showcases the event from air, land, and sea with a full suite of drones, handheld cameras, helicopters, and underwater units.
An inspirational and motivating content fixture since 1991, the IRONMAN World Championship documentary special has garnered 54 Emmy Award nominations and earned 16 Emmys along with many other accolades. For more than three decades, the drama of the IRONMAN World Championship triathlon has captured the attention of millions around the world providing viewers an all-access experience from water, land, and air, showcasing the 140.6-mile challenge that is the pinnacle of the sport. Its compelling stories of ordinary people accomplishing the extraordinary combined with the sports elite making history have moved and inspired television viewers of all ages throughout the years.
To learn more about the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 brands and series of events, please visit www.ironman.com. Media inquiries may be directed to [email protected].
