Taylor Knibb and Vincent Luis win Ironman world titles in Kona

American Taylor Knibb claimed her first Ironman world title in Hawaii, while France's Vincent Luis won the men's race on his Kona debut.

Knibb completed the course in 8:36:29. The event comprises a 3.8-kilometre swim, a 180-kilometre bike ride and a 42.2-kilometre marathon.

Norway's Solveig Løvseth overtook Knibb late in the run and remained more than a minute ahead shortly before the finish. But the defending champion began to struggle and collapsed. Knibb passed her on the final stretch to regain the lead.

Løvseth recovered sufficiently to finish eighth. Germany's Laura Philipp took second, approximately three minutes behind the winner.

Knibb had withdrawn from the previous year's race while leading with only a few kilometres remaining. She said that experience helped her conserve herself and focus on reaching the finish when Løvseth moved ahead this time.

Luis, 37, won the men's race in 7:47:27. It was his first appearance in Kona and only his third full-distance Ironman race.

Norway's Gustav Iden, the 2022 champion, finished second in 7:49:03. Luis previously won the World Triathlon Championship Series in 2019 and 2020 and took Olympic bronze in the mixed relay in Tokyo.

Grace Thek was the highest-placed Australian woman in tenth, while Nick Thompson finished eleventh among the professional men. The races took place on October 10 in Hawaii, corresponding to Sunday in Australia.