Interesting facts about the IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo World Championship 2024
- A World Cup with participants from 119 countries
- The IRONMAN 70.3 Pro Series comes to an end
- Stories of overcoming at the starting line
The VinFast HOMBRE DE HIERRO 70.3 World Championship lands for the first time in the city of Taupō, New Zealand, bringing together the elite of international triathlon.
Over 6.200 triathletes, representing 119 countries, regions and territories, and Nearly 100 professionals At the starting line, the event will bring together a diverse and numerous field in one of the most spectacular natural environments on the planet.
A World Cup with participants from 119 countries
This year, the race is divided into two days: on Saturday 14 December, it will be the turn of more than 2.400 women participants, while on Sunday 15 December, around 3.800 men will take to the field.
Both races will crown New IRONMAN 70.3 World Champions and age groups and will also define the outcome of the first IRONMAN Pro Series.
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The range of nationalities is wide: 31% of the athletes come from Europe, while North America accounts for 29%.
Oceania accounts for 18%, Latin America 12%, Asia 6%, Africa 2% and the Middle East 1%. The United States is the most represented country with 1.586 athletes, followed by Australia (765), France (421), New Zealand (401), the United Kingdom (390) and Canada (372).
Table of main participating countries
| Country | Registered Athletes |
| United States | 1.586 |
| Australia | 765 |
| French | 421 |
| New Zealand | 401 |
| United Kingdom | 390 |
Athletes will arrive on New Zealand's North Island from places like the Philippines, French Polynesia, Oman and Iceland, all looking forward to a unique sporting experience.
Stories of overcoming
The list of participants includes numerous triathletes with personal stories that demonstrate the human capacity to overcome obstacles.
- Team Wes (France): Two brothers, Valentin and Théophile, inspired by the legendary father-son duo Team Hoyt, compete together despite Théophile's cerebral palsy. Their goal: to get close to 5 hours and 30 minutes of racing.
- Olivia Ritchie (New Zealand): After a serious accident that fractured her spine, Olivia fought for months to regain her mobility. She has already completed an IRONMAN 70.3 in her country and is now looking to push her limits at the World Championships.
- Ciara Stockeland and Bella (USA): Mother and daughter who have made triathlon their bond. Both have competed in IRONMAN distances and even in the prestigious Kona, Hawaii venue.
- David Zaharakis (Australia): A former Australian Football League player, he has turned his attention to triathlon since retiring, racking up participations in IRONMAN 70.3 and full distance events.
- Anne Roesler (Germany/Canada): After a complex liver operation, he managed to recover and qualify for this World Cup in less than a year.
- Matteo Ruberti (France): Diagnosed with autism at the age of 10, this young man stands out for his marathon times and for his qualification for Taupō. He aims for greater challenges in the future.
- Javier Merida (Spain): Spanish paratriathlete who, after losing a leg in a traffic accident, has achieved success at European and world level. He has completed epic crossings and will be one of the ambassadors of the Spanish army in this edition.
These individual cases are a reflection of the IRONMAN spirit: demonstrating that anything is possible with dedication, commitment and community support.
