Defending champions, Germany’s Jan Frodeno and Switzerland’s Daniela Ryf, headline elite field in the world’s most iconic single-day sporting event.

Triathlon’s top professional talent will convene in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i on October 14 for the 41st edition of the IRONMAN World Championship, the most iconic one-day endurance event in the world. Leading one of the most competitive and talented professional fields in race history, German Jan Frodeno and Swiss Daniela Ryf will both be looking to win their third-straight IRONMAN World Championship title.

“As we approach four decades of racing at the IRONMAN World Championship in Hawai`i, the level of global competition is as strong as it has ever been. With a field of such fine professional athletes competing again this year, I am certain we will see another spectacular race.” said Andrew Messick, Chief Executive Officer for IRONMAN. “

The women

The women’s professional field will have their sights set on two-time IRONMAN World Champion and now three-time IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion, Daniela Ryf from Switzerland.

Also vying for the title is last year’s third-place finisher Heather Jackson (USA), who will be looking repeat as the top American finisher for a third straight year. Sarah Crowley (AUS), who broke through with a win at the 2017 IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship in Cairns in June, and again just a month later with a victory at the IRONMAN European Championship in Frankfurt, will also be looking to challenge for a podium spot.

Kaisa Sali (FIN), who finished fifth in her IRONMAN World Championship debut last year, intends to use her blistering run speed to move up a few notches in her second go on the Island of Hawai`i.

Among other seasoned competitors headlining the female group are Michelle Vesterby (DNK), one of the most consistent performers at the IRONMAN World Championship and winner of the 2017 KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen; Susie Cheetham (GBR), who is coming off a strong win at the 2017 IRONMAN South American Championship, and exciting newcomer Lucy Charles (GBR), fresh off a dominating win at the 2017 IRONMAN Lanzarote and a runner-up finish at the IRONMAN European Championship in Frankfurt.

The men

Adding pressure onto the field will be Lionel Sanders (CAN) who has been dominant in IRONMAN 70.3 competition, amassing 16 wins over the past four seasons, including an almost flawless record in 2017 with victories at IRONMAN 70.3 events in Pucon, Buenos Aires, Oceanside and Mont-Tremblant.

Rising-star Josh Amberger (AUS) will make his debut in Kona after capturing the 2017 IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship in Cairns in May.

Two-time IRONMAN African champion and 2014 IRONMAN World Championship runner-up Ben Hoffman (USA) will look to improve upon his fourth-place finish from a year ago.

Fellow Americans Tim O’Donnell and Andy Potts, who respectively earned third and fourth place finishes in the 2015 IRONMAN World Championship, will join Hoffman in competing to become the first IRONMAN world champion from America since 2002 (Tim DeBoom).

Read more on: Ironman.com