Paula Findlay wins first Ironman triathlon at Lake Placid on her debut attempt

Edmonton-born-and-raised athlete Paula Findlay won her first-ever full-distance Ironman Triathlon last weekend at Lake Placid, New York, completing the 226-kilometre race in 8 hours, 47 minutes and 43 seconds — and securing qualification for the Ironman world championship in Kona, Hawaii.

The Ironman Triathlon consists of a 3.8-kilometre swim, a 180-kilometre bike ride, and a 42.2-kilometre marathon run, completed consecutively without a break. It is considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world.

Findlay, 37, exited the swimming portion in sixth position and more than three minutes behind the leaders. She worked her way through the field on the bike course, setting a new women's bike course best time of 4 hours 50 minutes 26 seconds. As the race evolved into a duel between Findlay and Spain's Marta Sanchez on the bike and into the marathon, the pair separated themselves from the rest of the field.

Sanchez briefly challenged Findlay early on the run, but the Edmonton native gained advantage around the five-mile mark. By the marathon's halfway point, she had opened a lead of more than a minute and continued extending it through the final miles, despite navigating the unknown territory of her first marathon beyond 30 kilometres. Findlay crossed the line in 8:47:43, securing victory by nearly four minutes.

Findlay was the first Canadian triathlete to win a World Triathlon Series event and was considered a medal contender going into the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, but a nagging hip injury prevented a podium finish. She now boasts 14 Ironman 70.3 (Half Ironman) championships and is qualified to race in the 2026 Ironman world championship in Hawaii on Saturday, October 10.