For Grace Thek, the 2026 goal is clear: enter the IRONMAN Pro Series with a flourish, and earn that Kona spot. After that? Play the cards she's dealt during a Big Island debut at the Hawaii IRONMAN World Championships. With heat, pressure and the island gods looking over the Queen K, everyone knows the island loves to deliver surprises—and she's aiming to be one of 'em.
Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Grace Thek has been a study in toughness. A former collegiate cross country runner, she found triathlon as a way to stave off injury... and never looked back. She's quietly amassed no less than 23 IRONMAN 70.3 and Challenge Family podium results since 2018—a showcase in steady top-tier performance at the middle distance.
But in 2025, she showed up at Challenge Roth—her first full Ironman-distance event—and proceeded to shock the world with a dynamic runner-up finish, on one of the grandest stages in the sport. Grace Thek, the middle-distance ace suddenly became a new long-course threat.
What to Watch For in 2026
Now, she's turning her focus to the IRONMAN Pro Series, and a long-awaited debut in Kona."Roth was a bucket race, and I'm so happy to experienced how special that race is. Now it's time to turn to Kona the other major bucket list race," she says. "I'm not getting younger; I need to tackle it. The history, the magic of the island, I’m excited to hopefully be part of it."
Results
2025
2nd place, Challenge Roth
3rd place, IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong
7th place, T100 Singapore
9th place, T100 Wollongong
2024
2nd place, IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See
2nd place, IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong
2nd place, IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania
7th place, IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside
2023
1st place, Challenge Salou
1st place, IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong
1st place, Challenge Wanaka Half
2nd place, IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania
