Swallow, a 29-year-old from Loughborough, finished six minutes ahead of Cave to complete the course which consisted of a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run in 4 hours 6min 28sec for the second world title of her career.

Swallow came out of the Gulf of Mexico well ahead of the fast-swimming duo of Julie Dibens, Britain's defending women's champion, and flew through the opening stages of the bike ride.

It was a lead that Swallow continued to extend and cruised to victory as Cave moved through to make it a British one-two while Dibens had to settle for eighth.

"Today I just had to believe in myself and what my coach told me," said Swallow, who in 2009 won the International Triathlon Union (ITU) long course World Championships title.

"I put my head down from the gun and just didn't look back until I got into the finish chute."

Germany's Michael Raelert became the first person to defend an Ironman World Championship 70.3 title as he claimed the men's event.

He dominated a strong men's field to solidify his status as the world's premier Ironman 70.3 athlete.

Raelert crossed the line in 3:41:19 to finish 98 seconds ahead of Filip Ospaly from the Czech Republic.

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