The best female triathletes in the world from 13 age groups claimed their respective titles at the 2025 IRONMAN® World Championship triathlon in Kona, Hawaii, on Saturday, October 11. More than 1,600 registered athletes from 78 countries, regions, and territories swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles, and ran 26.2 miles in the triathlon’s pinnacle event.

One local is an IRONMAN® World Champion. Lafayette Hill resident Sharon Schmidt-Mongrain won her age group, Women 50-54, completing the course in 10:06:55. On top of that, she not only won her age group, but her time of 10:06:55 shattered the previous all-time 50-54 age group world record (it was 10:19:29 set in 2023). If she had competed in the 40-49 age group, that time would have earned her fifth place.

Schmidt-Mongrain is a strength training coach for the youth Colonial Community Aquatics program and does her own swim training at PlyMar.

Over the summer, she competed in and won her age group at the USA Triathlon National Championship Olympic Distance race held in Milwaukee. She was also a favorite to win the shorter Sprint distance race, but it was cancelled due to flooding.

In November, she is scheduled to compete in the World Championship 70.3 (half Ironman) held in Marbella, Spain.

Photo: Submitted