Top Swim Images From Race Day at 2018 Ironman World Championship

MOVE OVER, PATRICK LANGE: German elite athlete Patrick Lange may hold a course best time after winning the 2017 IRONMAN World Championship, however that wasn’t going to prevent his manager Jan Sibbersen from grabbing some of his own limelight. Sibbersen set a brand new swim course best, with a time of 46:30. The previous best stood for 20 years, when Lars Jorgensen recorded a time of 46:41 (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

GAPPING THE FIELD: Great Britain’s Lucy Charles demonstrated her pedigree in the water and showed her intent at the 2018 IRONMAN World Championship by delivering a new best time in the 2.4-mile swim leg. The 25-year-old, who exited the Pacific Ocean in a time of just 48:13, smashed the previous best of Jodi Jackson (USA) by 30 seconds. Her final few meters in the sea were captured perfectly by this aerial photo (Photo by Donald Miralle/IRONMAN)

STRETCH IT OUT: 2014 IRONMAN World Champion Sebastian Kienle retains his steely-focus as he does a final stretch prior to entering the Pacific Ocean for the swim leg of the 2018 IRONMAN World Championship (Photo by Nils Nilsen/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

THE SCRAMBLE FROM BENEATH: Athletes propel themselves through the Pacific Ocean at the 2018 IRONMAN World Championship, embarking on their epic 140.6 mile journey towards the famous finish line arch (Photo by Donald Miralle/ IRONMAN)

SEA OF BLUE: A crowd of age-group men descend down the stairs and into the Pacific Ocean to kick off the swim portion of the 2018 IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i (Photo by Nils Nilsen/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

JUMPING WITH JOY: The performances of world class athletes in the water were celebrated by Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins during the 2018 IRONMAN World Championship giving athletes and spectators a side show to enjoy in Kailua Bay (Photo by Maxx Wolfson/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

HAWAIIAN SUNRISE: With the elite men already underway, the age-group men prepare to enter the Pacific Ocean to tackle the 2.4 mile (3.86km) ROKA swim course at the 2018 IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona (Nils Nilsen/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

THE LADIES ARE A GO: The female age group athletes got underway in clear blue waters of the Pacific Ocean at the 2018 IRONMAN World Championship (Photo by Donald Miralle/IRONMAN)

DOWN THE COAST: Male age group athletes embrace the challenge of Kailua-Kona Bay as they take on the 2.4-mile ROKA swim course at the 2018 IRONMAN World Championship. Nearly 1,800 male athletes were registered to compete at the 40th anniversary of the race. (Photo by Maxx Wolfson/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

Top Swim Images From Race Day at 2018 Ironman World Championship

Shawn Smith