Well-credentialed Australian triathletes Nick Thompson and Penny Slater have scored breakthrough wins in Cairns.
They claimed the 15th Ironman Cairns race, the first time they have won over the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km run format.
Thompson was runner-up at Cairns last year and Slater was seventh two years ago at the Hawaiian Ironman world championships.
"The win means everything, first Ironman win being in Australia," Thompson said.
"When you race overseas, you don't really get that (crowd support) and it makes such a huge difference.
"When you're basically in a 5K radius of the finish line, it's like you don't even have to fight any demons, someone everywhere yelling at you, giving you a (time) split. So, super, super special to do it here."
