It was the fifth time Sacramento hosted the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and 26.2-mile run.

SACRAMENTO, Calif — Thousands of competitors completed more than 140 miles of racing at Ironman California in Sacramento on Sunday. 

For many athletes, the journey to the finish line included support from family and friends cheering them on. The cheers were especially meaningful for Hannah O’Hearn, a Sacramento teacher who became an Ironman finisher on Sunday.

“I grew up on the river, I swam in the river, water-skied, I’d run on the levy. I’d bike on the levy with my family. So, it means the world to me,” O’Hearn said.

She also got a surprise at the finish line when her brother, who had just returned from deployment, showed up to celebrate with her.

“He’s here, my sister’s here. I have family, it’s just been such a full circle moment,” O’Hearn said.

The 2026 course was a 2.4-mile swim in the Sacramento and American rivers, a 112-mile bike ride through the Delta region and a 26.2-mile run through downtown Sacramento.

While O’Hearn competed in her hometown, other athletes traveled from around the world to take on the course.

Sophia Trenz is from western Germany near Cologne, Düsseldorf and the Rhine area. She completed her ninth Ironman in just over 9 hours and 17 minutes, finishing as the third-fastest woman.

Trenz said she enjoyed the course so much that she hopes to return to Sacramento in the future.

“Especially on the bike, it was so much fun. I love the downriver swim, and yeah, the city is beautiful,” Trenz said.

Race organizers said about 3,500 athletes competed in Ironman California, the most since Sacramento began hosting the race in 2022. They expect the event to generate about $15 million for the local economy.

“They’re coming in with their family and friends, and they come in early to get acclimated to the weather and to the course, so it’s great for our hotels and restaurants and it’s just a really fun week in Sacramento every year,” David Eadie of Visit Sacramento said.

The race started at 7 a.m. Sunday, and athletes had to finish in under 17 hours, giving them until midnight to cross the finish line.

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