Triathletes Smash the IRONMAN Barrier

Special Olympics Florida athletes continue to shatter misconceptions and break barriers!

Two of our remarkable triathletes made history over the weekend by competing in and completing the World IRONMAN Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Marion County’s Adrienne Bunn and Pasco County’s Marlynne Stutzman not only finished the race, they established some world records along the way.

Adrienne finished first in her division and became the youngest person with autism to complete the race. Marlynne, meanwhile, became the first person with autism to run the Boston Marathon and finish a full IRONMAN. And both became the first female Special Olympics athletes to complete an IRONMAN.

A full IRONMAN is one of the most grueling endurance races on earth. It includes a 2.4-mile open-water swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run.

Adrienne and Marlynne are following in the footsteps of Special Olympics Florida athlete Chris Nikic who completed the same race last year.