About John Dunbar
John Dunbar was an American triathlete.
John Dunbar (born 1954) is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL and Ironman triathlete.
Dunbar finished 2nd in the first two Ironman races - 1978 and 1979.
The competitive struggle between Dunbar and the fourteen other athletes in the 1979 race was profiled in a ten-page, 6,175 word article titled "IRONMAN" in the May 14, 1979 issue of Sports Illustrated magazine that is widely credited with launching triathlons into public prominence.
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Important facts
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Dunbar?
U.S. Navy SEAL and Ironman triathlete
What was John Dunbar's occupation?
John Dunbar was a triathlete.
What nationality was John Dunbar?
John Dunbar was American.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: John Dunbar (triathlete)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Dunbar. https://biography.guide/john-dunbar-triathlete/
MLA: "John Dunbar." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-dunbar-triathlete/.
Chicago: "John Dunbar." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-dunbar-triathlete/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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