Facts about the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship. More than 2.400 triathletes in Kona
More than 2.400 international triathletes will meet this Saturday, October 26 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, to compete in the HOMBRE DE HIERRO world championship 2024.
This long distance triathlon event, considered the most prestigious in the world, returns to the iconic island after last year’s women’s edition was held in Nice, France, making history as the first time an IRONMAN World Championship was held outside of Kona.
In this edition, Triathletes from 85 countries, regions and territories will be present, consolidating the event as a truly global event.
It may interest you: How to watch IRONMAN Kona-Hawaii live?
With Average age of participants: 46 years, the inclusion of competitors of all ages stands out, from Warren Hill (NZL) with 84 years as the oldest, until Wojciech Poparda (POL) at only 20 years old, the youngest.
Diversity is also reflected in the presence of 85 countries and 46 US states, with California, Texas and Florida being the most represented.
El VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Kona will begin with a test of 3,8 km swim in the crystal clear waters of the Kailua Bay, followed by a challenging route of 180,2km in bike along the historic route lined with lava fields and ocean shores.
Finally, the triathletes will face a 42,2 km marathon that will take you through the iconic Ali'i Drive, where thousands of spectators will cheer on the competitors as they cross the finish line.
7 Age Group Champions who will try to renew their title
This year, participation is enriched with seven age group champions who are returning after being crowned in the 2023 edition.
Among them are Pierre Stiereman (France, M30-34) and Laurent Jalabert (France, M55-59), who will seek to repeat their success.
It also highlights the collective effort of the more than 3.500 volunteers who will support the organization and logistics of the test.
Participation data
The event also stands out for its diversity: 47% of athletes come from Europe, leading the regional representation, while North America brings the 29% of those registered, followed by Oceania (10%) y Latin America (7%).
This mosaic of cultures and nationalities makes the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship a sporting event of truly global significance.
Among this year's favorites is the Norwegian Kristian Blummenfelt, who will seek to break the record of 7:40:24 set by his compatriot Gustav Iden in 2022.
Blummenfelt arrives in Kona fresh off a win in Frankfurt, less than two weeks after competing in the mixed relay at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, demonstrating her great resilience and fitness.
inspiring stories
This year, some triathletes will stand out not only for their sporting abilities, but also for their inspiring personal stories:
- Warren Hill (NZL), the oldest participant at 84 years old, and Wojciech Poparda (POL), the youngest at 20 years old, are proof that triathlon has no age and that all participants have a story to tell.
- Jeff and Johnny Agar (USA), father and son who, despite the difficulties faced since 2016, have returned to complete their dream of completing an IRONMAN. Johnny, who has cerebral palsy, crossed the finish line in 2022 with the help of his father and now they are looking for redemption in Kona.
- Michael Andreasen (USA), who has hypochondroplasia, competes to show that “everything is possible” even with physical limitations. With the support of the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), will seek to inspire the world.
- Paul Bradford (United Kingdom), who, after a serious accident in 2022 where he suffered a brain injury and multiple fractures, has returned to compete in Kona, showing an impressive capacity for resilience.
- Billy Monger (United Kingdom), a former racing driver and double amputee, will be taking part while raising funds for Comic Relief, with the ambition of setting a record for a double amputee athlete in Kona.
- Beau Jones (Australia), who after battling PTSD and overcoming weight issues, found in triathlon a way to positively impact the mental health of others.
