The Australian Richard Thompson and Dede Griesbauer from the USA have won the Ultraman Hawaii 2022. Griesbauer completed the three-day circumnavigation of the Big Island over 10 km swimming, 421 km cycling and 84 km running in 23:22:58 hours and thus set a new record time.
Day 1: 10km swim, 145km bike ride
The Canadian Barry Berg set the fastest time over the 10 km swim from the pier in Kailua-Kona to Keauhou Bay in 2:46:16 hours. Just three minutes later, Dede Griesbauer was the first woman to land. On the 145 kilometers by bike to the Volcano National Park, the American Rob Gray, Ultraman Hawaii winner of 2017, took the lead (final time day 1: 7:32:13), directly followed by Griesbauer (7:32:27) and the Favorites Richard Thompson (7:43:17) who set a new record time for the bike leg at 4:38:53.
Day 2: 276 km cycling
On the 276 kilometers by bike via Hilo, the Hamakua Coast, Waimea to the finish in Hawi, Thompson was once again the dominating athlete. 12:13:58 hours were timed for the 36-year-old, who also took the lead in the overall ranking (15:18:22). Griesbauer was still second overall (15:34:29), followed by Steven Keller (15:50:02).
Day 3: 84 km run
In the double marathon from Hawi to Kailua-Kona, Richard Thompson was also well ahead of the field. In 6:55:16 hours he was the only one to stay under the 7-hour mark and thus secured the second Ultraman Hawaii victory after 2018 in a superior manner in 22:13:38 hours. Steven Keller (USA/23 :12:01) and Jan Greyell (CAN/25:37:26).
Dede Griesbauer, who won three Ironman races in her long professional career and is known to most as a co-commentator of the Ironman live streams on Facebook, ran the 84 km back to Kailua-Kona in 7:48:29 hours. With her winning time of 23:22:58 hours, the 52-year-old also improved the new overall course record, set by Amber Monforte (USA) since 2010 at 24:07:11 hours (although not the exact one same course).
The second fastest woman was Antonia Reznikov of Israel in 24:59:21, followed by Leanda Cave (GBR), who won the 2012 Ironman Hawaii, and in 26:54:11 just ahead of Canada’s Tara Norton (27:12:08 ) who competed as the defending champion.