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Australia's Max Neumann fourth in Ironman World Championship in Hawaii as Norway's Gustav Iden wins in record time

Australia's Max Neumann is among four triathletes who have bettered the previous Hawaiian Ironman world championships course record on Sunday (AEDT).

Norwegian Gustav Iden won the race in seven hours 40 minutes 24 seconds over the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km marathon run course.

Sam Laidlow of France was second at Kailua-Kona on Hawaii's main island in 7:42:24 and Norwegian Kristian Blummenfelt completed the podium in 7:43:23.

Neumann maintained his form after an impressive bike ride and took fourth in 7:44:44.

It is the best Australian result in the men's race since Luke McKenzie finished second in 2013.

An Australian has not won at Kona since Mirinda Carfrae took out her third title in 2014, while Pete Jacobs was the most recent men's champion in 2012.

The top four — all Hawaiian Ironman debutants — went under the previous course record of 7:51:13 that German Jan Frodeno set in 2019.

Iden is the first man to win Hawaii on debut since Belgian Luc Van Lierde in 1996.

Dave Scott, the American legend who won six times, is the only other man to achieve the feat, in 1980.

American Chelsea Sodaro won the women's title on debut two days ago.

Australian Cameron Wurf, who finished fifth in 2019, took 11th place in 8:00:51.

Eight hours used to be the Hawaiian Ironman's equivalent of the four-minute mile, but Wurf was the first finisher not to break the mark on Sunday as the men's professional race enjoyed ideal conditions.

The race is usually marked by stifling humidity and howling trade winds on the bike course, but Laidlow smashed Wurf's bike record of 4:09 with his split of 4:04.

The Hawaii race returned for the first time since 2019 because of COVID-19.

The event was also held over two days for the first time in its 44-year history, with the age group categories split between Friday and Sunday.

AAP/ABC

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