Skechers Performance, a division of Skechers USA Inc., celebrated the success of elite triathletes racing in Skechers GoRun footwear at the 2017 Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on Saturday, October 14. Lionel Sanders and Lucy Charles each finished second in their respective men’s and women’s competitions, and David McNamee took third place for the men.
In his third appearance at the Ironman World Championship, Sanders logged career-best splits on the swim, bike and run segments to cross the finish line in 8:04:07. Lucy Charles, who raced in Kona this year for the first time as a professional, surprised her competition by leading for much of the race before finishing in 8:59:38. David McNamee challenged Sanders late into the run finishing just behind him for third place in a time of 8:07:11.
“This race was a battle, but that’s what I live for and what I love about this sport,” said Sanders. “The run was tough and going against my fellow Skechers Performance teammate, David McNamee, right up to the end was incredible. The result was awesome, but to me it’s all about how you get there.”
Sanders, a native of Ontario, Canada, first took up the sport of triathlon in 2009 as part of his recovery from substance abuse and has since become a dominant force in the sport. He won his debut race as a professional in 2013 at the Ironman 70.3 Muskoka before going on to set the previous Ironman triathlon World Record at the 2016 Ironman Arizona, with a time of 7:44:29. Most recently, he won the 2017 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships in a time of 5:20:36.
Great Britain’s Lucy Charles, a former professional swimmer who made her professional debut in 2016, rose to the top of the sport within a year, winning her first professional title at the 2017 Ironman Lanzarote, where she set a new course record.
“I still have no words,” said Charles. “To think back to just a year ago, I never thought I’d even be on the start line in Kona, let alone standing on the podium. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my entire team whose belief in me got me across the finish line today.”
David McNamee, taking the bronze medal in the men’s competition and also from Great Britain, is the first British male in the 40-year history of the Ironman World Championship to reach the podium. He had previously set the record as the fastest Brit to race in Kona with his 13th place finish and a time of 8:28:05 in 2016.
“We are so proud of Lucy, Lionel, and David on their incredible performances in Kona,” said Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers. “Triathlon is the ultimate test of endurance and perseverance, and their determination to overcome, cross the finish line and reach the podium is truly remarkable and inspirational. That they’ve each reached this level of success wearing Skechers GoRun is a testament to fans that our performance footwear delivers when it matters most.”
Charles, Sanders, and McNamee were joined in Kona by fellow Skechers Performance triathlon athlete Andy Potts of Colorado Spring, Colorado, who finished the 2017 Ironman World Championship as the top male American finisher (8:14:43).
Since its debut with the first model of Skechers GoRun worn by Meb Keflezighi in 2012, Skechers Performance footwear and apparel has earned respect throughout the running world and won numerous awards within the footwear industry. Skechers Performance is the official footwear sponsor of the 2017 Ironman Canadian, European, and South Africa Tours.
