Darren Young achieved his decade-long goal of completing the 2024 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, finishing the race in 11 hours and 54 minutes. The event saw over 2,000 athletes tackle a 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike ride, and a 42 km marathon across Kona’s intense heat and terrain.
Starting at 7:30 am, Young battled high temperatures and even endured jellyfish stings, pushing forward with encouragement from his family and his commitment to representing Samoa. He finished 1,575th, and his race was celebrated by Mati Sapolu, Samoa’s only Ironwoman and former competitor in Kona.
Young thanked his supporters, including the Triathlon Samoa Association, and encouraged younger Samoan athletes to consider endurance sports. He hopes future triathletes from Samoa will pursue Ironman, noting the value of resilience built through the sport.
