After a much anticipated two-year-plus wait, race day has commenced as over 2,800 athletes began their 140.6 mile day, with the 2.4-mile swim in Sand Hollow State Park Reservoir for the swim at the 2021 IRONMAN World Championship in St. George, Utah. Following the swim, athletes still have a 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run, before they reach the finish line.

An athlete swims beneath the rising sun at Sand Hollow State Park. Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images for IRONMAN
Athletes prepare to enter the water for the men’s pro swim. Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images for IRONMAN
Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images for IRONMAN
Age group athletes run into the water at the swim start. Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images for IRONMAN
This is one happy age group athlete as he awaits the swim start. Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images for IRONMAN.
Professional athlete Matt Russell of the United States has his body marking applied. Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images for IRONMAN.
An aerial view of athletes during the swim leg. Photo: Ryan Bethke/IRONMAN.
Staying focused and counting down the minutes for this age group athlete as he waits at the swim start. Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images for IRONMAN
Age groupers showing their excitement as they head into the water to start their journey. Photo: Ryan Bethke/IRONMAN