For his late mother: Patrick Lange triumphs at the Ironman World Championship!

Hawaii (USA) - When he had run five kilometers, Patrick Lange (38) passed a bay and there, " this may sound stupid, my mother was there. I got goose bumps all over my body," said the athlete after his great triumph in Hawaii.

Patrick Lange (38) has won the Ironman World Championship for the third time.
Patrick Lange (38) has won the Ironman World Championship for the third time.  © Sean M. Haffey / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

When he crossed the finish line of the Ironman World Championship to claim his third victory in arguably the toughest competition in the world, his mother, who died in 2020, was not only in his head, but above all in his heart.

"When she was in the hospice and I saw her for the last time, she told me to give my all for her and win again. That's what I've done now," said the champion on ZDF with tears in his eyes.

Lange had already won the Ironman World Championship in 2017 and 2018, and this time he even set the course record on top in 7:35.53 hours.

"Of course, it means everything to me, especially after the dry spell. Winning the last title in 2018 and now again with a course record. I've always said that I haven't had the perfect day in triathlon yet, but today really was the perfect day. The title definitely goes to my mom," he explained in the sports show.

Born in Darmstadt, he dedicated the title to his mother, who passed away in 2020.
Born in Darmstadt, he dedicated the title to his mother, who passed away in 2020.  © Sean M. Haffey / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
In the running discipline, he unpacked his seven-mile boots and overtook one athlete after another in front of him.
In the running discipline, he unpacked his seven-mile boots and overtook one athlete after another in front of him.  © EZRA SHAW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Not even a jellyfish attack could stop Patrick Lange

He outdid the competition with a new track record.
He outdid the competition with a new track record.  © EZRA SHAW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

After 3.86 kilometers of swimming and 180.2 kilometers of cycling, Lange was not in the lead, but as soon as he had put on his running shoes, his incredible catch-up show began, in which he overtook one after the other with his relaxed-looking running stride.

Not even a jellyfish that had attacked him in the water in the first discipline could stop him.

Before the competition, before which he had slept little as usual and was extremely excited, he said that he wanted to get everything out of every movement, and he put his words into action.

Hardly anyone looked as fit and light-footed as the Hesse native. At the finish line, he was overcome with emotion in memory of his mother, but still had enough strength left to celebrate.

His great triumph rounds off the German triathlon season, in which Laura Philipp (37) won the women's Ironman World Championship in Nice and the German mixed team took a completely surprising gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Paris.

Lange, Germany's 2018 Sportsman of the Year, receives 125,000 US dollars (around 115,000 euros) in prize money for his victory. The title and the knowledge that he has fulfilled his mother's last wish are likely to be much more valuable to him.