Posted: September 14, 2005

Triathlon: Mark Johnson finishes 2005 Ford Ironman Wisconsin

MADISON, Wisc.—Mark Johnson (Verona, Wisc.) finished his first Ironman at the 2005 Ford Ironman Wisconsin held on Sept. 11 in Madison, Wisc.

Johnson, who is the current women’s hockey coach at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, finished with an overall time of 16 hours, 36 minutes and 47 seconds. Johnson finished the swim in 1:27:00, the bike in 8:13:10 and the run in 6:29:34.

Johnson was recently inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004. Johnson helped the University of Wisconsin to a national championship in 1977 and also played 11 years in the National Hockey League.

Johnson is most notably recognized for his participation in the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team’s gold-medal campaign.

Johnson scored two goals against the Soviet Union in the semi-final round of the tournament and recorded an assist on the game-winning goal against Finland in the final round.

2,076 triathletes from around the world competed at the 2005 Ford Ironman Wisconsin. Athletes competed for 80 qualifying spots to the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, as well as a $30,000 pro-prize purse.