5 men from Big Island finish Ironman World Championship; Graca takes third in his age group

Hawai‘i Island’s first local finisher at the Ironman World Championship in Kona on Saturday is no stranger to the 140.6-mile grueling swim, bike and run course.

José Graca, 51, of Kailua-Kona, and representing his native country of Brazil in the race, clocked in 9:20:07, according to the Ironman Tracker app, ranking him third out of 246 in the men’s 50-54 age group.

This will be the second time in two years that Graca has captured a podium spot. He placed second in his age group during the 2024 men’s World Championship.

To read about the men’s and women’s exciting pro races and dramatic finishes, click here.

On Saturday, Graca won the podium spot by just 19 second over Portugal’s Lino Barruncho.

As he walked gingerly back toward the lūʻau grounds of the hotel with volunteers on either side of him, he was all smiles and said he felt “amazing.”

“The guy behind me was like two seconds behind,” he said. The last mile was neck and neck.”

He said he gave everything not to look behind him and just focus on crossing the finish line.

“I didn’t die!” he said jokingly.

This year, there were five men from the Big Island, including four from Kona, who made the World Championship. No local women made the race.

The other finishers from the Big Island:

• Steffen Brocks, Kona, 11:27:31, placing 98th out of 238 in men’s 55-59 age group.
• Keish Doi, 59, Kona, 11:50:16, placing 121st out of the 242 in the men’s 55-59 age group.
• Mark Loftin, Kona, 15:03:09, placing 209th out of 238 in men’s 55-59 age group.
• Michael Pipta, Pāhoa,16:16:35, placing 134th out of 141 in menʻs 60-64 age group.

Doi looked strong as he was escorted back by volunteers to the recovery area. He said the whole race is fun and challenging.

“I think the bike was windier than before,” Doi said, “and finishing this late, it also cools down a bit so that’s great.”

Overall, Doi said he had a great time and praised the volunteers and spectators.

“They really keep you going when you’re getting tired,” he said.

Between Brocks and Doi, 35-year-old Gudrun Hespel of Belgium finished the triathlon in 11:22:14. Like every finisher, she received an Ironman towel and kukui nut lei. But Hespel also got a special surprise: an engagement ring.

Her boyfriend dropped to one knee and proposed.

This was Hespel’s first Ironman World Championship in Kona and the experience has meant everything to her.

While the finish line was a dream come true, Hespel said the 26.2-mile marathon into the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority at the Hawai‘i Ocean Science and Technology Park, two miles south of Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, was challenging.

“There are no supporters, and the road feels like it never finishes,” she said.