Germany's Jan Frodeno won his third Ironman World Championship title in a course record in Kona in Hawaii ©Getty Images

Germany topped the podiums at the Ironman World Championship in Kona in Hawaii today as Jan Frodeno won a third men’s title in a course record and Anne Haug earned a first women’s title both for herself and her country.

Britain’s double Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee, making his debut in a full Ironman event, finished 21st.

Frodeno, who preceded Brownlee as Olympic triathlon champion at Beijing 2008, finished the event in 7 hours 51min 13sec, breaking the mark of 7:52:39 set last year by compatriot Patrick Lange, who pulled out of this race during the bike ride.

A 47min 31sec time in the opening 2.4-mile swim put Frodeno in second ahead of a 4:16:03 clocking in the 112-mile bike ride.

His concluding marathon in 2:42:43 saw him onto the top step of the podium.

In adding to his 2015 and 2016 wins, Frodeno - who had recovered from the injury that undermined his 2017 performance in Kona and prevented him competing last year – won a sixth consecutive men’s title for Germany.

Lange had won in 2017 and 2018 and Sebastian Kienle in 2014. 

After defending his Ironman European Championship title in Frankfurt in June and adding two Ironman 70.3 wins, Frodeno looked like his old self upon arrival.

Anne Haug celebrates a first Ironman women's world title for herself and for Germany at Kona ©Getty Images
Anne Haug celebrates a first Ironman women's world title for herself and for Germany at Kona ©Getty Images

"The truth is that I'm grateful to be here a year later, healthy, fit, and with a shot at the crown," he said.

"For all the nerves and all the hard work, it’s just the best feeling to be back here in great shape.

"People shout 'Get the [course record] time!' I’m like, bloody time, I just want to finish.

"Honestly I don’t care about the record.

"It’s the Wimbledon of our sport.

"It’s the greatest feeling in the world.

"After walking [during the marathon] here two years ago, it’s a bloody good feeling to run four-minute [kilometres]."

Tim O’Donnell of the United States was second in 7:59:40 and bronze going to Kienle, who recorded 8:02:04.

Brownlee, who revealed he would make a decision about whether to defend his Olympic triathlon title for a second time in Tokyo next year after he had finished this race, clocked 8:25:03.

Britain's double Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee finished 21st - more than half-an-hour behind the winner ©Getty Images
Britain's double Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee finished 21st - more than half-an-hour behind the winner ©Getty Images

Haug took the women’s title in 8:40.10, with Lucy Charles-Barclay of Britain earning a third consecutive silver medal in 8:46.44 and Australia’s Sarah Crowley third in 8:48.13.

Haug moved past Charles-Barclay and into the lead thanks to a 2:51:07 marathon.

Charles-Barclay was the first out of the water, but Haug’s 4:50:18 bike portion eroded her lead.

Switzerland’s Daniela Ryf, seeking to add a fifth consecutive women’s title, finished 13th in 9:14:26.