With a fabulous record and marriage proposal to the Ironman World Championship title

The 32-year-old needed 3,8:180:42,195 hours to swim 7 km, cycle 52 km and run 39 km - never before had a participant stayed under eight hours in the world's toughest race.

Overwhelmed by his victory, Lange proposed to his girlfriend Jule after crossing the finish line. With the victorious wreaths on his head and around his neck, he went down in front of her and asked for her hand in marriage. The friend, pleasantly surprised and overwhelmed, said yes.

After the sporting masterpiece came the private highlight. © Instagram

"It's incredible. Thank you for the energy out there, thank you Germany,” said Lange on ZDF.

On Saturday (local time) the German triumphed ahead of Bart Aernouts (+4:02 minutes/Belgium) and the British David McNamee (+8:30).

In the women's race, victory went to Daniela Ryf for the fourth time in a row; the Swiss also set a course record in 8:26:16 minutes. As in the previous year, the Englishwoman Lucy Charles had to make do with second place.

Jan Frodeno, Hawaii champion in 2015 and 2016 and the actual top favorite because of his performances this season, could only watch because of a stress fracture in his hip.

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With a fabulous record and marriage proposal to the Ironman World Championship title

Triathlete Patrick Lange (Germany) defended his title at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii with a course record. After the finish line there was also a private highlight.

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