Flying the South African flag high, eleven determined women represented in Hawaii for the IRONMAN World Championship.
Kona, Hawaii (13 October 2025)- The IRONMAN World Championship in Kona stands as one of the toughest endurance events in the world. Every year, top athletes gather on the Big Island of Hawaii to take on a 140.6-mile (226km) challenge that demands strength, stamina, and determination in equal measure.
The course began with a swim in the warm, turquoise waters of Kailua Bay, followed by a demanding cycle across the volcanic landscape of the Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway, and ended with a marathon under the intense Hawaiian sun, finishing along the iconic Ali’i Drive.
This year, a group of determined South African women took on the Kona course, joining thousands of athletes from around the world. They carried their ambitions, but also the hopes and encouragement of those supporting them back home.
Team South Africa proudly flew the flag in Kona, featuring a remarkable group of athletes: Lianne Bowker, Ingrid Hansen, Julie Wilford, Megan Newman, Estie Cloete, Jacqualine Roberts, Anneri Kemp, Anabel Tennassie-Goosens, Michelle Reed, Janine Harvey, and Michelle Enslin. Each of these women has earned her place on the world stage through months of preparation, balancing work, family, and the demands of elite-level training.
View this post on Instagram
They dedicated countless hours to training early mornings in the pool, long rides on open roads, and steady runs through all kinds of weather. Their journey to Kona reflects true discipline and passion for the sport.
The 2025 edition of the race was dedicated to women, continuing a proud tradition of celebrating female endurance and excellence. However, the 2026 championship will return to its original format, with both men and women competing together for the first time since 2019.
Each athlete who competed in Kona became part of a shared story that celebrates effort, perseverance, and the spirit of competition.
For the South Africans who lined up in Hawaii, this race was a personal test, a chance to represent their country, celebrate women in sport, and show what can be achieved through dedication.
Because at the heart of it, it’s about more than endurance, but finding your rhythm while facing a challenge, and crossing that finish line with pride.
Sources: South African Triathlon Fans/ Paul Ingpen
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:
Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 