Cherie Gruenfeld Selected as 2025 Inductee into IRONMAN Hall of Fame

October 2, 2025

14-time age group IRONMAN World Champion to be recognized for her achievements and contributions to IRONMAN and the sport of triathlon

KONA, Hawai`i / TAMPA, Fla. (October 2, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – IRONMAN is pleased to announce that an icon of the sport and one of the most highly decorated IRONMAN<sup>®</sup> age-group athletes, Cherie Gruenfeld, will be inducted into the IRONMAN Hall of Fame this year. An induction ceremony is planned for race week of the women’s 2025 IRONMAN World Championship<sup>®</sup> race in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i.

Gruenfeld completed her first triathlon at the age of 48 and participated in her first IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Kona in 1992 that same year. After discovering running and completing her first triathlon, the sport became Cherie’s passion. Cherie left behind a job in management at a tech company to pursue the sport full time and she hasn’t looked back since. With an incredible 14 IRONMAN World Champion age group titles, Cherie has also won four IRONMAN 70.3^® World Championship age group titles (most recently the 2024 edition in Taupō, New Zealand), authored a book about her IRONMAN experience, and started a program called Exceeding Expectations in 2001 that helps at-risk kids in San Bernardino, California achieve excellence in education through the foundations of triathlon and sport. Gruenfeld continues to be a beacon in sport, showcasing the possibilities and living by the example she has spent more than 30 years creating.

“My 33-year IRONMAN journey has been a gift, and I’m deeply honored to be recognized among so many accomplished athletes and contributors,” said Gruenfeld after learning she would be this year’s inductee into the IRONMAN Hall of Fame.

In 2022, Cherie became the oldest female ever to complete the IRONMAN World Championship triathlon, at 78 years old. In so doing, earning her 14th age group title in Kona. The honor proved to be a fitting capstone on a remarkable ongoing career that has spanned over 30 years and included 28 IRONMAN races, 18 IRONMAN age-group category wins, and 14 IRONMAN World Championship age-group titles. Gruenfeld is also a USA Triathlon Hall of Fame inductee and has been named the USA Triathlon Female Grandmaster of the Year on three separate occasions (2001, 2007, 2014).

“We are honored to induct Cherie to our IRONMAN Hall of Fame,” said Scott DeRue, Chief Executive Officer for The IRONMAN Group. “Cherie is an exemplary ambassador for the sport, has dedicated a lifetime to triathlon and the IRONMAN brand, and has championed what it means to be an age-group IRONMAN World Champion numerous times over. Her achievements have furthered the sport and inspired many to embrace the IRONMAN mantra, ‘Anything is Possible’. We are proud to recognize Cherie as the newest deserving member of the IRONMAN Hall of Fame, and thank her for her lasting impact on our sport.”

Founded in 1993, the IRONMAN Hall of Fame was created to honor individuals who have performed at the highest levels of IRONMAN racing or made outstanding contributions to the growth of the world’s most famous triathlon race series. Gruenfeld joins a prestigious list of remarkable athletes and contributors, honored for what they have given to the sport of triathlon and the IRONMAN brand both inside and outside of competition.

IRONMAN Hall of Fame:

For more information about the IRONMAN Hall of Fame and its members, visit www.ironman.com/about/hall-of-fame.

For more information on the IRONMAN brand and global event series, visit www.ironman.com. Media-related inquiries should be directed to press@ironman.com.

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About The IRONMAN Group

The IRONMAN Group is the world’s largest operator of participation sports with a portfolio of brands, events, media, partners, merchandise, and digital platforms operating in over 50 countries worldwide. A global portfolio consisting of hundreds of events includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series, 5150^® Triathlon Series, IRONKIDS^®, premier running events including the Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Running Series, the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf^®, the UTMB® World Series of trail running, the Epic Series™ of mountain biking including the Absa Cape Epic^®, and a collection of road cycling and other multisport races. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN^® brand and its first event in 1978, millions of athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines around the world. From its beginnings as a single race among friends in Hawai’i, The IRONMAN Group has become a global sensation and collection of high-growth lifestyle brands that inspire people to unlock their potential in life. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about/ironman-group.