KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII — 10 October 2026 — On athletes Gustav Iden and Julie Derron have delivered outstanding performances at the long-distance triathlon world championships in Kona, finishing in second and third place respectively.
In one of the most unpredictable and hard-fought races in Kona history, both athletes showcased world-class athleticism, overcoming critical race-day setbacks to solidify their places among triathlon’s elite—leading a phenomenal day for On athletes across both fields.
2022 World Champion Gustav Iden delivered a masterclass in grit along the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway. Despite receiving a costly three-minute drafting penalty on the bike portion, Iden unleashed a ferocious run performance—clocking a blistering 2:36:58 marathon—to systematically carve his way back through the field.
Iden crossed the line in 7:49:03 to secure a heroic second-place podium finish behind race winner Vincent Luis (7:47:27). The performance also capped off an extraordinary year, securing Iden the overall IRONMAN Pro Series title and its top prize.
Making her highly anticipated World Championship debut in Kona, Swiss standout and Olympic Silver medallist Julie Derron proved she belongs on full-distance triathlon’s biggest stage. Derron established herself at the front of the women’s race early, executing a tactical swim and riding near the lead group for much of the 112-mile bike leg.
Despite enduring a drafting penalty on the bike and navigating severe heat conditions on the marathon run course, Derron showed immense courage, pushing through grueling miles through the Energy Lab to cross the line in 3rd place—securing a World Championship podium in her first Big Island attempt.
In a stacked men's professional race, France's Pierre Le Corre proved his championship pedigree. Executing a clean, tactically flawless performance across all three disciplines, Le Corre crossed the line in 7:53:29 to earn a stellar 5th place finish in his Kona debut.
Olympic champion Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) displayed his characteristic toughness. Fighting back after losing ground on the bike, Blummenfelt pushed through the heat on Ali'i Drive to stop the clock in 7:58:07, securing an 8th-place finish in a brutally fast field.
British star Kat Matthews fought through fierce conditions on the Queen K, battling in the lead chase group during the bike leg and holding strong on the run to capture a Top 10 finish.
In the women's race, 2025 champion Solveig Løvseth authored one of the most courageous displays in Kona history. Holding a 1:50 lead with under a kilometer to go, Løvseth succumbed to severe heat exhaustion near the finish. Showing staggering willpower, Løvseth gathered herself, got back to her feet, and walked down Ali'i Drive—flashing smiles and high-fiving cheering fans to cross the line in 8th place.
"To watch Gustav and Julie charge onto the world championship podium, to see Solveig display the true heart of a champion on Ali'i Drive, and to witness Pierre, Kristian, Kat, Frederic, and Paula support each other with smiles and shared passion across the lava fields was deeply inspiring," said Maria Ortega, Triathlon Athlete Manager at On. "Their fortitude and sportsmanship under the most extreme conditions in world sport embody everything our brand stands for."
Crucial to both athletes carving up the marathon course was On's world-class race-day footwear technology. Iden stormed to his second-place finish in the Cloudboom Strike 2 LS, leveraging On’s revolutionary LightSpray™ upper technology—a seamless, laceless, robotically sprayed "second-skin" fit paired with a new Helion™ HF midsole that is 15% lighter, a curved carbon Speedboard®, and CloudTec Sphere™ geometry designed to preserve fresh legs over 42.2km. Meanwhile, Derron tackled the grueling heat and humidity powered by the Cloudboom Strike 2, relying on its pinnacle marathon cushioning and explosive propulsive response to power her way onto the World Championship podium.
About On
On was born in the Swiss Alps in 2010 with the mission to ignite the human spirit through movement – a mission that still guides the brand today. Sixteen years after market launch, On delivers industry-disrupting innovation in premium footwear, apparel and accessories for high-performance running, outdoor, training, all-day activities and tennis. On’s award-winning CloudTec® and LightSpray™ innovation, purposeful design and groundbreaking strides within the circular economy have attracted a fast-growing global fan base – inspiring humans to explore, discover and Dream On.
On is present in more than 90 countries globally and engages with a digital community on www.on.com.
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