There’s always quite a bit of former Division I swimming representation at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, and this year was no different. Former TCU swimmer Amanda Stevens was the first to complete the swim on the women’s side, and former Michigan All-American Andy Potts was the first to finish the men’s swim.
Stevens completed the 2.4 mile swim in 54:25, and Potts emerged from the water in 50:56.
While no American has won the Ironman World Championship since 2002 (since 1996 for women), the Americans are typically very strong in the swimming portion of the event. Last year, Georgia alum Haley Chura was first out of the water on the women’s side, and the event record on the swim is a 46:41 belonging to former Olympian and current Kentucky head coach Lars Jorgensen.
Potts is a former All-American and Michigan and a two-time individual Big Ten Champion. Stevens is a former All-Conference swimmer at TCU, and her brother and sister both swam in college as well.
After the swim, athletes (who are still on the course) will go into a 112 mile bike ride and a full marathon (26.2 miles) in the ultimate test of pure athletic endurance.
Maary Beth Ellis, 9th overall in women and 2nd fastest USA female, swam at Northwestern University.
Marybeth Ellis former Northwestern swimmer out first for women.