2007 Ford Ironman World Championship Photo Essay

Photos: Bakke-Svensson/WTC

Shooters: Eric Lars Bakke, Ben Hays & Tony Svensson

Kate Major's helmet in the swim-to-run transition. The Aussie would finish third with a time of 9:19:13.

The swim start from "the other side" which shows the swimmers, the pier, King Kamehameha's sacred site and the "computer software" multimillion dollar home in the background. And, the sun is in your back!

Pro men about halfway through the bike. In this image, Australia's Chris "Macca" McCormack is stretching out his hand in a futile gesture towards the riders that are just passing him, undoubtedly screaming, "Come on, mates, that gap is no more than a couple of meters!" Macca would eventually win the race in a time of 8:15:34 (51:48, 4:37:32, 2:42:02).

Denmark's Torbjørn Sindballe shows perfect cycling form having just passed Chris Lieto for the lead on his way
back into Kona town. His heart rate reads 142 BPM. Torbjørn would eventually cross the line in third, the first top
three finish by a contestant from the Nordic countries since Finland's Pauli Kiuru second place to Mark Allen in 1993.

Ironman rookie Chrissie Wellington from the United Kingdom gets off the bike in first place, as if to say, "Yes, I've been waiting all day to run a marathon." And run she would.

Chris Lieto of Danville, CA is still in the lead!

Shortly thereafter, he is caught by Macca. Twenty minutes after his pit stop, he has to let Macca go. The pace is too high.

Macca comes into the aid station at the Natural Energy Labs.

Wait…

…a…

…minute!

Who said triathletes can only run in straight line?!

Chrissie crosses the finish line in first place, recording the second fastest run split ever and the first female rookie win in Kona in many years. Her splits were 58:09, 5:06:15, 2:59:57 for an impressive total time of 9:08:45.

Samantha McGlone of Canada finishes second with a 9:14:04 and a run split less than a minute slower than the winner.

55-59 year age grouper Carol Peters from Canada as the sun is setting on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway.

Amanda Balding and Jacque McKenzie, both from Tweed Heads, Australia, getting ready to party.

Scott, you are a stud!

A selection of the crew that made it all come together.