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Germans sweep Iron Man triathlon

October 9, 2016

Jan Frodeno has won his second Iron Man triathlon. The German triathlete beat 2014 champion and compatriot Sebastian Kienle by four minutes to defend his title. Switzerland's Daniela Ryf defended the women's title.

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Ironman Hawaii Sebastian Kienle
Image: picture alliance/dpa/B. Omori

Frodeno completed the 3.8 km swim, 180 km cycle and 42.2 km run in eight hours, six minutes and 30 seconds to win his second-consecutive Iron Man triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. His time is the fourth fastest ever recorded at the event. 

Kienle finished second in 8:10:02, and Patrick Lange rounded out the podium at 8:11:14 to complete the German sweep. It is the third consecutive victory by a German in the event and second sweep by the country after Thomas Hellriegel, Jurgen Zack and Lothar Leder finished 1-2-3 in 1997.

"It feels that much sweeter," said Frodeno, who was greeted at the finish line by wife Emma and infant son Luca. "It's been a long year with lots of sacrifices. I'm just grateful to be here."

Hawaii Ironman 2016 - Jan Frodeno, Deutschland
Jan Frodeno swam, cycled and ran his way to his second straight Iron Man titleImage: picture-alliance/AP Photo/M.J. Terrill

Frodeno won in a different style than his victory a year ago when he took the lead during the bicycle leg. With the leading seven men finishing the cycle locked together, Frodeno broke away from the pack during the run.

"I can't remember when I last suffered so much," Frodeno said.

Ryf repeat

Ryf's title defense was much more comfortable, beating second place finisher Mirinda Carfrae by more than 23 minutes. Her time of 8:46.46 smashed the previous course record by nearly eight minutes.

"That was my best race ever," Ryf said. "Thanks so much to my team. I doubted all week whether I was strong enough on the bike and now I'm breaking the record in Kona. I didn't even feel any pain."

dv/ (AP, Reuters)