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Ignite Editorial
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August 18, 2023
Last Saturday marked a milestone for triathlete champion Cam Brown. His 25th and final Ironman competition saw Cam weather a tough, but ultimately rewarding race.
Breaking the nine-hour barrier, Cam came in at seventh place, completing the 3.8km swim, 180km bike, and 42.2km run in 8:42:15.
Cam said, “The game has been lifted every year but I’m pretty happy with the result. It’s 25 years of fantastic memories, and to get seventh today, the top 10 at nearly 51, you can’t complain really.
“It’s a race that has been part of my life for so many years so it’s very special to me. My family and friends have always been there to support me; usually, when I race overseas it’s just me so having them here watching me makes it that more special.”
It was an emotional finish for Cam, who was welcomed over the line by exuberant crowds, including his wife, Jenny. Cam marked his final competition by racing for his dad Dave, one of his greatest supporters, who sadly passed away in September last year.
With Ignite being a 17-year sponsor of Cam’s triathlete career, Jeremy Whelan attended the competition and says, “This may be Cam’s final race – but his name will be etched into the history of Ironman New Zealand forever. At Ignite, we have proudly supported Cam over the years, and enjoyed seeing him go from strength to strength, collecting titles across the world. He leaves an inspiring legacy for future NZ athletes, and we look forward to being part of his journey going forward.”
This may be Cam’s final race – but his name will be etched into the history of Ironman New Zealand forever.
After the race, Cam was presented with a pounamu by Race Director Wayne Reardon and celebrated with a haka in respect of his incredible career.
Cam’s legacy at Ironman New Zealand dates back to 1997, claiming his first win in 2001 – an accomplishment he would repeat an incredible 12 times, with his most recent title in 2016. In addition to his 12 wins, he has 20 podium finishes at Ironman New Zealand that he secured consecutively between 1999 and 2018.
If you’d like to learn more about Cam’s remarkable career, see the IMNZ documentary feature here.
