It is remarkable to watch the sport continue to evolve, year after year, redefining the limits of what once seemed possible. In 2025, athletes once again raised the bar, setting new performance standards that reshaped expectations across the sport. What follows is a look back at some of the defining highlights of the 2025 season.
The momentum began early. In April, Kat Matthews rewrote the women’s Ironman record books at Ironman Texas, stopping the clock at a phenomenal 8:10:34 – the fastest time ever recorded in an Ironman-branded race. On the same day, Cameron Wurf delivered a historic ride of his own, setting the fastest bike split in Ironman history with a 3:53:32.
June brought an unprecedented wave of record-setting performances. At Ironman Hamburg, three milestones fell in a single race. Laura Philipp delivered a mind-boggling 8:03:13, eclipsing Matthews’ record just weeks after it was set. In doing so, Philipp also established a new women’s Ironman marathon record with a 2:38:27. The day did not end there. Solveig Lovseth announced her arrival on the Ironman stage with an extraordinary debut, finishing in 8:12:28, the fastest Ironman debut ever recorded.
The same month, Manoel Messias dos Santos added his name to the history books at Ironman Brazil. Racing his first Ironman, he shattered the men’s record for the fastest marathon in an Ironman event, running an astonishing 2:26:50.
As the season moved into its championship phase, the record-breaking pace continued. At the Ironman World Championship in Nice, Casper Stornes produced a commanding performance, winning in 7:52:39 to set a new record. His race included a 2:29:25 marathon, breaking the course record and marking the first sub-2:30 run at an Ironman World Championship.
On the women’s side, October brought another landmark moment. At the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Kat Matthews once again pushed the boundaries, setting a new marathon course record with a stunning 2:47:23 on one of the most demanding courses in the sport.
Short-course racing delivered its own historic achievements. Matt Hauser completed the most dominant season in WTCS history, becoming the first athlete ever to win four WTCS events in a single year. His dominance was matched only by Hayden Wilde, who won every T100 race he entered in 2025, aside from Dubai (where there was a lap-counting error).
And just as the season drew to a close, 2025 delivered one final statement. In December, Georgia Taylor-Brown capped the year by setting a new Ironman 70.3 world record at Ironman 70.3 Bahrain, finishing in an extraordinary 3:51:19.
The post The Sport Jumps Forward: A Look Back at the Records That Defined 2025 appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.