The Ironman Canada-Ottawa event kicked off today, sending thousands of people swimming, running, biking and cheering across the capital on a rainy Sunday morning.
Approximately 3,000 athletes are partaking in the triathlon event, which includes a 3.8-kilometre swim, followed by a 180-kilometre bike ride and a 42.2-kilometre run.
Kiyan Sunderji of Calgary, Alta. was the first athlete to cross the finish line, completing the race in 8 hours 26 minutes and 53 seconds. Today was Sunderji’s tenth Ironman and his first-ever first place finish.
“It’s amazing. It’s so amazing,” Sunderji said.
“I’ve been dreaming about this since I was a little kid. My dad raced in 2004. He started, and I was just one. I was in the stroller watching Ironman Canada at that time in Penticton, and it’s been so amazing. And I’m so excited that I got to show what I can do on the course.”
Sunderji completed the swim in 57:57, the bicycle portion in 4:27:37, and the marathon-length run in 2:56:55.
At the halfway point, Sunderji picked up a bit of extra motivation: a bag of candies.
“I love to hold them, I don’t eat them, but it’s just because I really like candies, so I hold them with me and keeps me going. Makes me eat them at the all at the end, so I’m excited to have these,” he said.
Sunderji said he improved upon his previous best performance by nearly 40 minutes. At 23-years-old, the athlete says he’s eager to see what he can accomplish next.
“I’m one of the young guys, so I’m excited to you know see where this sport takes me,” Sunderji said.
Sunderji was trailed by Luke Evans, who finished with a time of 8:38:20. Evans was the first to complete the Ironman Canada-Ottawa in 2025.
Arianne Lalancette was the first female athlete to complete the race, earning a time of 9:09:33.
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'You got to bring the spirit’
The athletes aren’t the only ones trekking across the city on race day, as the event brought out thousands of eager supporters seeking to cheer on family and friends.
Sean Dotson travelled all the way from Florida to support his wife, Sarah Powers, who is competing in her third Ironman.
“She’s been doing triathlons for probably 15 years now,” he said. “She kind of retired from it a while ago but she said she wanted to do one more, so she’s got to do one more — get it over and get it out of her system.”
The race kicked off with the swimming portion at Britannia Park at 6 a.m.
Sean and his daughter Riley were among a group of 12 people who travelled to Ottawa to offer their support, and they were on the sidelines early Sunday morning as Powers made her way out of the water and onto her bicycle.
“It was really exciting. I’ve been to a few of her and my dad’s half marathons, but this is the first one we’ve really traveled super far for,” Riley said.
“The energy of the crowd’s always really great.”
For others, the trip to the sidelines was much shorter. Christopher Lindsay, who lives near Britannia, braved the rain on Sunday morning to cheer on the racers.
“My goal here is just to thank everyone for coming out. It’s fantastic having 3,000 of these athletes out here at a local course here in Ottawa,” he said.
“I mean, I’m lucky that I live right on the course. It’s down at my beach. It’s a great use of the facility, and it’s just so wonderful being motivated by all these athletes.”
The event spans the east, west and south ends of Ottawa, sending athletes and spectators alike across the city.
“It is crazy as a spectator running from the swim to the bike, then to the run after. It’s a whole-day ordeal,” spectator Kristen Kostuch said.
Despite waking up in the early hours of the day, Kostuch said she’s bringing the energy to cheer on her brother, Matt Kostuch.
“We woke up at 4 a.m. We are here. We drove all the way. We’re super excited,” Kostuch said.
“You got to bring the positive energy. You got to bring the spirit. You got to bring those cowbells and cheer on everybody.”
Volunteer Barb Unrau had an even earlier start but says she’s happy to be lending a hand for the once-per-year event.
“I’m enjoying myself so much,” she said.
“I don’t mind getting up at one o’clock in the morning because it’s only once a year, and just supporting all the participants that are in the race, and it’s great. I love it.”
Last year, Evans was the first to cross the finish line with a time of 8 hours and 40 minutes. Aliisa Heiskanen was the first female to cross the finish line, completing the course in 9 hours and 32 minutes.
Athletes will finish the race with a view of Parliament Hill at Major’s Hill Park. There, Sean and Riley Dotson will be waiting to watch Powers take her final step.
The key to crossing the finish line? A whole lot of tenacity.
“She’s amazing. She’s tenacious. Just goes out and doesn’t quit, you know. And that’s the important thing. As long as you don’t quit, that’s the most important thing. Just keep trying,” he said.
With files from CTV’s Kimberley Johnson
