Lionel James Sanders (born February 22, 1988) is a Canadian professional triathlete winner of the 2017 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships. He has 33 first place finishes in Ironman 70.3 races and 5 first place finishes in full Ironman events. In 2017 and 2022, he placed second at the Ironman World Championship. In 2014 he placed fourth in the 2014 Ironman 70.3 World Championship held in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec. Sanders's first professional race was in September 2013 at the Muskoka Ironman 70.3, where he took 1st place over Andreas Raelert.
Career
Born in Windsor, Ontario, Sanders attended the University of Windsor, and later transferred to McMaster University in Hamilton where he ran for the cross-country running team.
In 2013 Sanders began to race local Ontario Multisport Canada triathlons. Sanders officially began his professional triathlete career in September when he continued his win streak by taking first place in 70.3 Muskoka. The following year Sanders went on to have a successful 2014 Ironman 70.3 season with notable wins at the Ironman 70.3 races in Muncie, Racine and Steelhead. After his 4th-place finish at the 2014 Ironman 70.3 World Championships Sanders finished his first Ironman distance race as a professional at Ironman Florida on November 1, 2014; an event he won. In that race, the swim was cancelled due to poor conditions.
Sanders had a string of 70.3 victories in 2015, combined with some learning experiences at the Ironman distance. At Ironman Texas, Sanders struggled under the oppressive heat & humid conditions, fading on the run and taking fourth. At Ironman Mont Tremblant, Sanders had a disappointing performance, finishing fifth. This was Sanders's first time competing at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii where he finished 14th. Sanders went on to Ironman Arizona, finishing with a time under 8 hours to take his first official full distance victory (a year before he won Ironman Florida, however the swim was cancelled).
On November 20, 2016, Sanders set a new world record for the full distance triathlon at Ironman Arizona, with a winning time of 7:44:29. The previous record, held by Marino Vanhoenacker, had stood for five years. Sanders' 2016 Record was broken by Tim Don in 2017 Edition of Ironman Brazil in Florianopolis.
In 2017, Sanders won ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. Sander's won all but one 70.3 race that he entered, the exception being 70.3 St. George, where he finished second to Alistair Brownlee. Sanders led the Ironman World Championship in Kona Hawaii through mile 23 of the marathon before being passed by Patrick Lange. Lionel would hold on to finish second. In 2018 Sanders continued his success, winning most of his races, except Oceanside 70.3, which he lost to Jan Frodeno. In June, he won Challenge Family "The Championship" again against Sebastian Kienle in a time of 3:44 before winning Mont-Tremblant 70.3. In full distance racing, Sanders placed 2nd at Ironman Mont-Tremblant and 29th at the Ironman World Championships.
Record attempts On October 23, 2020, Sanders broke the Canadian national hour record with a distance of 51.304 kilometres.
On the 18th of July 2021 Lionel Sanders joined Jan Frodeno in Allgäu, Germany trying to beat the long-distance world record in triathlon. This was a 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike and 42.2 km run. Frodeno broke his own record while Sanders came within eight minutes of the old record while also setting two personal best splits with the swim and the bike. His results were: 50:59 – 4:00:26 – 2:50:31 with a final time of 7:43:28.
Personal Sanders has been public about the substance abuse problem that eventually led him to sign up for the 2010 Ironman Louisville in late 2009. He finished in a time of 10:14:31. The Hamilton Spectator wrote an in-depth article detailing his substance abuse past and how he will be telling this story for the rest of his life. He was quoted as saying, "I want to prove to anyone who has ever battled addiction that not only can you beat it, but you can turn yourself into something great in the process."
Sanders is married and has a son who was born in 2022.
Race history 2013 DateRaceDistancesTimeRankMay 11, 2013IronHawk Duathlon5k - 30k - 5k1:20:371stMay 26, 2013Caledon Sprint Triathlon400m - 15k - 5k49:491stJune 2, 2013Ontario Duathlon Champs10k - 40k - 5k1:44:091stJune 8, 2013MSC Binbook Triathlon750m - 30k - 7.5k1:20:271stJune 16, 2013Ontario Sprint Tri Champs750m - 20k - 5k57:211stJune 22, 2013MSC Welland Triathlon750m 30k - 7.5k1:19:081stJuly 6, 2013MSC Huronia Triathlon1500m - 40k - 10k1:58:481stJuly 13, 2013MSC Gravenhurst Triathlon1500m - 40k - 10k1:59:021stJuly 21, 2013Canadian AG Nat.Tri Champs1500m - 40k - 10k1:50:541stAug 11th 2013Windsor Triathlon800m - 32k - 6k1:14:401stSept 8th 2013Muskoka Ironman 70.32k - 94k -21.1k4:01:201st
2014 DateRaceDistancesSwimBikeRunTotalRankApril 6, 2014Texas 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k27:382:13:361:12:083:56:1910thMay 3, 2014St. George 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:582:12:401:12:183:55:0718thMay 10, 2014Ontario Sprint Duathlon Champs750m - 20k - 5k56:001stMay 25, 2014Woodstock Sprint Triathlon750m - 20k - 5k11:1429:1115:5857:331stJune 1, 2014Raleigh 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k27:342:12:511:09:563:52:472ndJune 7, 2014Binbrook Long-Sprint Triathlon750m - 30k - 7.5k11:0242:5324:471:19:391stJune 22, 2014Syracuse 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:282:16:271:09:543:55:432ndJuly 6, 2014Ontario Sprint Tri Champs750m - 20k - 5k58:151stJuly 12, 2014Muncie 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:312:02:201:10:543:42:481stJuly 20, 2014Racine 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k27:412:05:171:09:363:45:551stJuly 27, 2014Bala Falls Long-Sprint Triathlon750m - 30k - 7.5k10:2440:5525:521:18:261stAug. 10th 2014Steelhead 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k29:422:00:411:12:363:46:131stSept. 7th 201470.3 World Championship1.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:422:04:141:11:213:46:034thSept. 13th 2014Lakeside Sprint750m - 20k - 5k10:5227:4616:2456:201stSept. 21st 2014Ontario Long Course Champs1.9k - 92.8k - 21.1k28:452:01:261:11:353:44:551stNov. 1st 2014Ironman Florida180k - 42.2k4:12:462:44:126:58:461st
2015 DateRaceDistancesSwimBikeRunTotalRankMarch 28, 2015Oceanside 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:592:04:461:13:123:49:193rdApril 26, 2015Galveston 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k28:232:02:251:12:203:45:391stMay 9, 2015Ironhawk Duathlon5k - 20k - 2.5k15:4627:297:5752:141stMay 16, 2015Ironman Texas3.8k - 180k - 42.2k57:194:11:253:11:228:24:544thJune 14, 2015Leamington Sprint Tri750m - 20k - 5k10:3326:2316:1654:431stJune 21, 2015Mont Tremblant 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:582:03:211:11:143:45:381stJuly 5, 2015Muskoka 70.31.9k - 94k - 21.1k27:502:16:081:15:394:02:541stJuly 19, 2015Racine 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:212:03:531:15:463:49:411stAug 9th 2015Tecumseh Triathlon800m - 32k - 6k13:0140:4021:531:16:351stAug 16th 2015Ironman Mont Tremblant3.8k - 180k - 42.2k56:274:40:323:00:378:42:135thOct 10th 2015Ironman World Championship3.8k - 180k - 42.2k1:01:104:35:172:54:418:36:2614thNov 15th 2015Ironman Arizona3.8k - 180k - 42.2k54:044:13:382:47:077:58:221st
2016 DateRaceDistancesSwimBikeRunTotalRankJan 31st 2016Panama 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k24:351:55:031:14:483:38:531stApril 2, 2016Oceanside 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:332:07:471:11:423:51:171stApril 10, 2016Texas 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:571:58:091:13:093:40:301stMay 7, 2016St. George 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k27:392:03:571:13:303:48:181stJune 26, 2016Mont Tremblant 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:172:02:291:15:063:47:311stJuly 17, 2016Racine 70.3N/A - 50k - 21.1kN/A1:02:481:17:152:20:572ndAug 7th 2016Tecumseh Triathlon800m - 32k - 6k15:0742:4221:471:20:491stAug 14th 2016Wiesbaden 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:132:20:391:09:204:00:232ndSept 4th 201670.3 World Championship1.9k - 90k - 21.1k25:412:06:421:10:343:47:149thOct 8th 2016Ironman World Championship3.8k - 180k - 42.2k56:414:26:353:17:018:44:4929thOct 28–30th 2016Island House InvitationalMultiple RacesN/AN/AN/A3:41:1810thNov 20th 2016Ironman Arizona3.8k - 180k - 42.2k53:454:04:382:42:317:44:291st
2017 DateRaceDistancesSwimBikeRunTotalRankJanuary 15, 2017Pucon 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k28:202:09:231:16:384:00:081stMarch 12, 2017Buenos Aires 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k27:191:59:271:13:103:42:471stApril 1, 2017Oceanside 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k25:202:05:421:14:063:50:041stMay 6, 2017St. George 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:252:01:241:12:193:42:312ndJune 3, 2017Challenge Samorin Championship1.9k - 90k - 21.1k24:471:56:041:14:223:40:031stJune 11, 2017Leamington Sprint Triathlon750m - 20k - 5k10:4126:4816:2455:101stJune 25, 2017Mont Tremblant 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:212:01:531:14:013:46:041stAug 27th 2017ITU World Championship3k - 120k - 30k40:402:51:121:45:355:20:361stOct 14th 2017Ironman World Championship3.8k - 180k - 42.2k53:414:14:192:51:538:04:072ndNov 19th 2017Ironman Arizona3.8k - 180k - 42.2k51:334:12:032:47:167:54:101st
2018 DateRaceDistancesSwimBikeRunTotalRankJanuary 14, 2018Pucon 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:512:01:151:16:253:48:441stApril 7, 2018Oceanside 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k24:352:08:421:11:283:48:582ndMay 6, 2018St. George 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k25:262:01:311:11:473:41:111stJune 3, 2018Challenge Samorin Championship1.9k - 90k - 21.1k29:051:58:171:10:493:44:031stJune 24, 2018Mont Tremblant 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k24:152:02:191:11:233:40:581stAugust 19, 2018Ironman Mont Tremblant3.8k - 180k - 42.2k55:074:28:352:55:518:24:012ndOctober 13, 2018Ironman World Championship3.8k - 180k - 42.2k53:594:16:593:15:268:30:3429th
2019 DateRaceDistancesSwimBikeRunTotalRankAug 11th 2019Tecumseh Triathlon800m - 32k - 6k12:1143:3622:311:19:241stAugust 18, 2019Ironman Mont Tremblant3.8k - 180k - 42.2k51:584:15:132:53:588:05:382ndSeptember 9, 2019Augusta 70.3 1.9k - 90k - 21.1k23:082:03:081:12:303:42:191stOctober 12, 2019Ironman World Championship 3.8k - 180k - 42.2k52:224:15:223:13:428:25:5422ndNovember 3, 2019Ironman 70.3 Los Cabos 1.9k - 90k - 21.1k25:162:02:341:13:093:44:061st
2021 +DateRaceDistancesSwim BikeRunTotalRankNovember 6, 2021Florida Ironman3.8 k - 180 k - 42.2 k58:194:04:302:40:437:48:502nd
2022 +DateRaceDistancesSwim BikeRunTotalRankApril, 2022Oceanside 70.31.9 k - 90 k - 21.1 k24:262:08:091:08:293:45:332nd2022Mont Tremblant 70.31.9 k - 90 k - 21.1 k25:302:05:171:13:593:48:021stOctober 8, 2022Kona 140.63.8 k - 180 k - 42.2 k52:574:16:313:17:538:32:2736thDecember 3, 2022Indian Wells 70.31.9 k - 90 k - 21.1 k26:532:03:041:11:013:45:164th
2023 +DateRaceDistancesSwim BikeRunTotalRankMay, 2023St. George 70.31.9 k - 90 k - 21.1 k26:042:04:581:13:353:48:204th
2024 +DateRaceDistancesSwim BikeRunTotalRankApril 8, 2024Oceanside 70.31.9 k - 90 k - 21.1 k24:362:06:111:10:403:46:241stJune 24, 2024Mont-Tremblant 70.31.1 k - 90 k - 21.1 k16:102:01:441:13:473:35:111stJuly 21, 2024Lake Placid 140.63.8k - 180k - 42.2k54:214:19:072:46:168:05:393rdOctober 26, 2024Ironman World Championship3.8k - 180k - 42.2k52:214:08:553:16:058:22:0632nd
2025 +DateRaceDistancesSwim BikeRunTotalRankApril 5, 2025Oceanside 70.31.9 k - 90 k - 21.1 k26:002:05:371:10:003:47:011stMay 10, 2025St. George 70.31.9 k - 90 k - 21.1 k25:001:58:131:11:493:37:541stDecember 7, 2025Indian Wells 70.31.9 k - 90 k - 21.1 k25:271:56:411:13:103:39:162nd
References