Gordon Haller

Haller grew up in Forest Grove, Oregon and earned a degree in physics at Pacific University.

On Oahu, Hawaii in 1978, Haller competed in Navy Commander John Collins’ race which combined the Waikiki Roughwater Swim, the Around-Oahu Bike Race, and the Honolulu Marathon. Of the 15 competitors, 12 finished what today is called the Ironman, and Gordon Haller was the first champion, with a time of 11 hours, 46 minutes, 58 seconds. In 1979, Haller placed second against triathlete Tom Warren.[1]

Haller commented about the success of Ironman, nearly 30 years later in a 2007 interview with Competitor Magazine "It’s just an amazing experience... certainly something I didn’t expect to have happen way back in the beginning."

• The Competitors Radio Interview with Gordon Haller
• ACTIVE.COM Ironman's first champ, Gordon Haller, looks back 25 years
• USA TODAY - Original Ironman still racing hard