Scorching performances from GBR’s Harry Palmer and Lizzie Rayner as they win a non-wetsuit Ironman 70.3 Swansea race

The challenging course and world-class field delivered competitive, dynamic and fast racing, with Harry Palmer (GBR) and Lizzie Rayner (GBR) ultimately claiming the 2026 IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea titles and maximum Experience Oman IRONMAN Pro Series points.  

 A beautiful morning greeted athletes at IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea, with the streets lined by the passionate Welsh crowds, creating an electric atmosphere for race day.

As temperatures continued to soar across Europe this weekend, the decision was made for the race to be non-wetsuit. That added another element to race day, with athletes adapting their race strategies accordingly. Even so, the pace remained exceptionally high, with both the men’s and women’s professional fields finishing just seconds shy of the previous swim course bests. 

What happened in the women’s race?

In the women’s race, India Lee (GBR) led the front of the all GBR swim pack which also comprised of Kate Curran (GBR), Jasmine Holmes (GBR), Lizzie Rayner, Steph Clutterbuck (GBR) and Megan Macdonald (GBR). Lee continued to set the pace through T1 and was first out onto the bike course, looking determined to take the win. 

Lee remained in control for  most of the bike leg, but around 10km before T2 she crashed and her chain came off, allowing Rayner, who had been steadily closing the gap, to move into the race lead. Rayner continued that lead into T2, closely followed by Lee and Rebecca Anderbury (GBR). 

Rayner dominated the run consequently taking home the win in a time of 4:23:56 for her first IRONMAN Pro Series victory. With Anne-Sophie Pierre (FRA) chasing her down and taking second place. In the last 5km of the run, Marta Lagownik (POL) overtook Anderbury, which resulted in a third place podium finish for her. 

Lizzie Rayner said on her win: “I can’t really comprehend actually. Its feels amazing. All week I was like, I want to win. I want to win this race, and I wanted to break the curse of Swansea that I’d put on myself and oh, it was really really hard that last like maybe 6k I was cramping really bad… the run course is super hard because it is just that long straight, you get to see your competitors at every turn.”

What happened in the men’s race?

In the men’s race, Olympian and short-distance specialist Pierre Le Corre (FRA) led the swim from start to finish as the field quickly stretched into single file. Close behind were Kieran Lindars (GBR), Mika Noodt (DEU), Ollie Turner (JEY) and Malachi Cashmore (GBR), while a second pack containing  Palmer and Simon Viain (FRA) followed not far behind. Cashmore was first through transition and onto the bike course. 

Noodt led the bike course most of the way, but the battle at the front remained highly dynamic, with constant changes among the top five professionals. Midway into the bike Noodt had an unfortunate crash which ended his race early. Palmer, Lindars, and Josh Lewis (GGY) were the first athletes into T2. Lindars was first onto the HOKA run course, with Palmer close behind in pursuit.

Ultimately for the men’s race, Palmer took the victory after leading throughout the run, crossing the line in a time of 3:50:21. Lindars secured second place with another impressive performance, just two weeks after racing at the Mainova IRONMAN Frankfurt European Championship. Joran Driesen (BEL) produced a strong late charge on the run, overtaking Simon Viain (FRA) to claim the final podium position. 

Harry Palmer on his third consecutive win: “Early on  the run, even up to maybe 10k, I thought maybe a top five would be a challenge because I knew, as Kieran just mentioned, like they were really really quick chases from behind. I wasn’t feeling so good. I was in a pretty negative place mentally, just with like not feeling so good. Back was pretty locked up, but I just yeah, just kept patient and knew that it knew that it could come” 

He goes on to talk about the Welsh crowds: “The support is incredible. I’ve never raced anywhere like it. It’s so good, and I guess you know living relatively close to here, I know what the roads are like. I train on roads like this all the time, so it allows me to navigate the course pretty well, and yeah, mainly it is the support. I don’t know what it is about the Welsh support, but they just bring it to another level. It is absolutely incredible.” 

Lead image: SWANSEA, WALES – JULY 12: Pro Athletes before the swim leg during the IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea on July 12, 2026 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Joern Pollex/Getty Images for IRONMAN)