Athletes brave the rain at Ottawa's second Ironman triathlon

Athletes brave the rain at Ottawa's second Ironman triathlon

Kiyan Sunderji won men's race, while Ariane Lalancette was fastest woman

Despite the constant threat of rain, Ironman Triathlon athletes didn’t rust as they swam, cycled and ran across the nation’s capital on Sunday.

University of Calgary student Kiyan Sunderji was the first of the thousands of racers to cross the finish line at Major's Hill Park, taking home the men's title with a final time of 8:27:53.

Finishing just a few minutes behind Sunderji was Luke Evans, the winner of the men's race in 2025. He finished in 8:38:20, besting his previous record.

Ariane Lalancette of Quebec City was the field's fastest woman, with a time of 9:09:33.

It was an early morning for racers as they lined up at Britannia Park at 6 a.m., starting the gruelling race with a 3.8-kilometre swim in the Ottawa River.

That was followed by a 180.2-kilometre bike ride weaving around Ottawa’s urban core and a full marathon on foot.

Up to 100 millimetres of rain forecasted

Triathletes pushed on under the threat of heavy rain, with up to 100 millimeters forecasted to fall Sunday on some parts of the region.

Up to 100 millimeters of rain could fall during Ironman Triathlon: Environment Canada

According to Environment Canada, between 50 and 100 millimetres of rain could accumulate, possibly pooling on low-lying roads and causing property damage.

The race’s downtown route also shut down stretches of several major roads, with some thoroughfares — including the Alexandra Bridge — staying closed until 1 a.m. Monday.

It's the second straight year Ottawa has hosted the Ironman Triathlon, with last year's race bringing in millions of tourism dollars for the city.

Justin Ball is a reporter at CBC Ottawa. He has also worked at the Toronto Star and holds a degree in journalism from Carleton University.