With a few days remaining before Ironman Hawaii the men's field has gotten significantly weaker. The casualties include two time champion Luc Van Lierde. Van Lierde, who pulled out before the 2000 race and dropped out in 2001, has withdrawn from this year's event with a bad back. Australian Craig Walton, who recorded several big short course wins this year, decided that the short course training and racing left him mentally stale and without enough time to prepare for Hawaii. Steve Larsen, who debuted in 2001 with a 9^th place finish, has pulled out with a knee injury.

The latest contender to pull out is Ryan Bolton, winner of Ironman Lake Placid in July. Two weeks ago Bolton became ill with what was thought to be a virus. Eight days later doctors determined that it was a bacterial infection caused by food poisoning. He was put on antibiotics, but by then it was too late for Bolton to recover in time to be ready for Ironman Hawaii.