British pair win as Swansea hosts UK's first ever IRONMAN Pro Series edition

Kat Matthews breaks the tape in Swansea to take home the maximum amount of Pro Series points.

There was double success for Great Britain as over 2,000 athletes descended on Swansea to take on a gruelling 70.3-mile triathlon.

British pair Harry Palmer and Kat Matthews claimed victories in the professional field of the UK's first-ever IRONMAN Pro Series event.

The third edition of the event included a 1.2-mile swim in Prince of Wales Dock, a 56-mile bike course through the coastal roads and countryside of Gower, and a 13.1-mile run along the Mumbles.

With air temperatures soaring above 28°C, and water temperatures exceeding 24°C, race organisers ruled the professional swim non-wetsuit, as it surpassed the wetsuit-legal limit.

It marked the first time elite athletes in the Ironman Pro Series have raced under such conditions in the UK.

Defending champion Palmer claimed back-to-back victories in Swansea, taking the overall Pro Series win in a time of 3:51:18.

Just 49 seconds separated him from training partner, France's Leon Chevalier as fellow Brit Kieran Lindars claimed third place.

"It was hot, and I do feel for all the age-groupers who are out there today, because they've got much harder conditions than we did, so fair play to everyone racing," Palmer told BBC Sport Wales.

"I didn't have the best swim, I'll be honest. I was in the second or third pack back, so I had some work to do on the bike.

"I came out [of the swim] with the likes of Will Crudgington, Freddie Webb, Malachi Cashmore, some other boys, and Kristian Høgenhaug, who was one of the guys I was keeping an eye on.

"He's an epic rider who likes to get on the front of the bike, so I felt I was in good company.

"My favourite part is the support.

"The course is amazing, especially with weather like this, and the Gower is incredible.

"But it's the people — it's the Welsh. They just know how to put on an event and how to support. I'll keep coming back to Welsh events because of that."

Overall Ironman Pro Series 2024 winner Matthews, claimed victory in Swansea with a time of 4:20:37.

Britain's Rebecca Anderbury and Danila Kleiser of Germany completed the podium, finishing second and third in the female professional race respectively.

"Three years feels like a lifetime. A lot has happened since then," Matthews, who last won in Swansea in 2022, said.

"I feel like a completely different person, and it felt like a different event this time around.

"I didn't have as much deficit coming out of the swim as I expected, so I was really motivated to attack at the start of the bike and catch the girls at the front.

"I was happy to see them quite quickly and pull them back, but then suddenly I was on my own at the front. It was quite nice to feel in control until the run, when I felt a bit hot."

Athletes lined up at Swansea Marina this morning to tackle the first of three disciplines in this middle distance triahtlon.

Thousands of supporters and volunteers lined the 70-mile course, providing encouragement and welfare support throughout the day.

With over half of the age-group field tackling their first IRONMAN 70.3, it was a day to remember for both competitors and their families.

Race Director Rebecca Sutherland said "It's always great fun when we go racing in Swansea, and this year was no different.

"It was another incredible race with thousands of athletes crossing the famous red carpet finish line to rapturous spectator support."

The race is set to return to the coastal city next summer for the fourth edition of the event.