First Wave: Triathlete’s Best Photos Of 2012

Brit Chrissie Wellington regained the Kona crown at the 2011 Ironman World Championship, battling through injuries sustained in a bike cash during a final training ride leading up to Kona. Photo: Kerry Yndestad/Competitive Image

Racers at the 2011 Ironman Florida in Panama City Beach make wake to the finish of the 2.4-mile swim. Photo: Elizabeth Kreutz

Australian Luke McKenzie hammers through the Tuart Forest during the Sunsmart Ironman Western Australia on Dec. 4, 2011. Photo: Delly Carr

Team TBB's Aaron Farlow of Australia runs along the shore of Lake Wanaka on his way to his first Challenge Wanaka title. Dubbed "the most scenic iron-distance race in the world." Challenge Wanaka is also known for its challenging hills and fierce winds along the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run around the picturesque South Island of New Zealand. Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images

Faris Al-Sultan, a member of the Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team, races along the waterfront during the 20K run of the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon in the United Arab Emirates. Photo: Nils Nilsen

Runner-up Sebastian Kienle of Germany collapses just behind the finish line of the Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas on April 1. Photo: Andrew Loehman

Pro Heather Jackson had a break through performance with her course record win at the 2012 Avia Wildflower Long Course Triathlon. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image

Americans Hunter Kemper and Manny Huerta surprised the pre-race favorites and punched their tickets to London at the 2012 ITU World Triathlon Series race in San Diego in May. The pressure was on for the American men: The first to cross the finish line would earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. If two men finished in the top nine, two spots would be handed out--which is exactly what happened. Hunter Kemper, 36, crossed in fifth, while Huerta, a 28-year-old immigrant from Havana, Cuba, took ninth to earn their Olympic berths. Photo: Nils Nilsen

More than 2,500 athletes file into Lake Coeur d'Alene for the mass start of Ironman Coeur d'Alene. Idaho's natural scenery, including mountain and lake views, serves as a panoramic backdrop for this mainstay in North American triathlon. Just before the event, Ironman announced that the event will be around at least five more years thanks to a contract extension. Photo: Larry Rosa

Chris Lieto was one of several athletes who weren't able to make the start at October's Ironman World Championship. "There are plenty of races going on around the Ironman Hawaii that I can focus on, as well as coming back next year full-force there," Lieto said about missing out on a 2012 Kona start. Photo: Nils Nilsen

Aussie Richie Cunningham and American David Thompson power through the scenic bike course at the inaugural Rev3 Maine in the town of Old Orchard Beach. Photo: Nils Nilsen/Rev3

Volunteers assist 2010 Ironman world champion Mirinda Carfrae after her third-place finish at this year's Hawaii Ironman. In her four Kona races, Carfrae has never finished off the podium, but this year seemed to test her limits more than the previous three. After her nutrition strategy went awry on the bike (she dropped a bottle containing crucial calories and sodium). Carfrae came into T2 in fourth position, eight minutes behind the women's leader, Caroline Steffen. She quickly caught and passed Mary Beth Ellis, but by the time she reached Great Britain's Leanda Cave, her nutrition mishap caught up with her. Cave went on to win the race, Steffen took second and Carfrae hung on for third. Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image