IRONMAN has announced that one of the most highly decorated IRONMAN 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 race in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i.
Cherie 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 her passion.
Gruenfeld 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, she 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.
“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 honour 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 honoured 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 honour individuals who have performed at the highest levels of IRONMAN racing or made outstanding contributions to the growth of the IRONMAN race series. Cherie Gruenfeld joins a prestigious list of athletes and contributors, recognised for what they have given to the sport of triathlon and the IRONMAN brand both inside and outside of competition.
IRONMAN Hall of Fame:
Year Inductee(s)
1993 Dave Scott
1994 Julie Moss
1995 Scott Tinley
1996 Paula Newby-Fraser
1997 Mark Allen
1998 John and Judy Collins
1999 Valerie Silk
2000 Tom Warren
2001 Dr. Bob Laird
2002 Bob Babbitt
2003 John MacLean / Gordon Haller / Lyn Lemaire
2004 Greg Welch
2005 Jim Maclaren
2008 Team Hoyt – Rick and Dick Hoyt
2011 Mike Reilly
2012 Graham Fraser
2013 Peter Henning
2014 Georg Hochegger / Helge Lorenz / Stefan Petschnig
2015 Lori Bowden / Heather Fuhr
2016 Lew Friedland / Peter Reid
2017 Chrissie Wellington
2018 Ken Baggs / Erin Baker / Rocky Campbell / Scott Molina
2019 Tim DeBoom / Kenneth Gasque / Michellie Jones / Jan War
2021 Natascha Badmann / Carlos Moleda
2024 Fernanda Keller / Kathleen McCartney
2025 Cherie Gruenfeld
