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Ironman New Zealand tops Athletes’ Choice Awards

The original Ironman qualifying event remains one of the most popular – Ironman New Zealand topped the “Overall Satisfaction” category in Ironman’s 2019 Athletes’ Choice Awards.

Photo: Getty Images

It should really come as no surprise that athletes love Ironman New Zealand. The original Ironman qualifying race began in Auckland in 1985 (there was a long-distance race in Penticton before that, Ironman Canada didn’t become an official Ironman Qualifier until 1986), but moved to Taupo in 1999. Through the 80s, 90s and 00s both events were renowned for their spectacular scenery and the amazing community support that made athletes feel special.

We’ll have to see if athletes find all of that once again in Penticton this year when the race returns to the Okanagan Valley, but based on Ironman’s post-race survey’s from 2019, Ironman New Zealand was a clear favourite amongst athletes from around the world.

The race topped the “Overall Venue Experience” and “Overall Host City Experience” categories in Ironman’s survey, was the second-most popular swim course and third-most popular run course.

The next race in the Overall Satisfaction category was the Ironman African Championship in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Third on the list was Sweden’s Ironman Kalmar.

While there weren’t any Canadian races in the top 10 of Overall Satisfaction, an event that’s popular for Canadian athletes, Ironman Lake Placid, was eighth.

Fans of Ironman Mont-Tremblant will be happy to know that the race featured in the top-10 for “Will Recommend to a Friend” (third), “Overall Bike” (seventh), and “Post-Race Celebration Experience” (fourth).

Related: Ironman Mont-Tremblant Course Preview and Tips

“The Rock” at IRONMAN Lake Placid. Photo credit ironmanlakeplacid.com

Here’s a list of the top 10 in the various categories:

Will Attend Next Year
Ironman Australia
Ironman Brazil
Ironman South Africa
Ironman Malaysia
Ironman Taiwan
Ironman New Zealand
Ironman Wales
Ironman Western Australia
Ironman Lanzarote
Ironman Vitoria

Will Recommend to a Friend
Ironman Sweden
Ironman Wales
Ironman Mont Tremblant
Ironman Lake Placid
Ironman New Zealand
Ironman Vitoria
Ironman Brazil
Ironman Austria
Ironman Wisconsin
Ironman South Africa

Overall Swim
Ironman Australia
Ironman New Zealand
Ironman France
Ironman Chattanooga
Ironman Vichy
Ironman Barcelona
Ironman UK Bolton
Ironman Wales
Ironman Sweden
Ironman Brazil

Overall Bike
Ironman Sweden
Ironman Lake Placid
Ironman Wales
Ironman Western Australia
Ironman Tallinn
Ironman New Zealand
Ironman Mont Tremblant
Ironman Maryland
Ironman Vitoria
Ironman Wisconsin

Overall Run
Ironman Sweden
Ironman Vichy
Ironman New Zealand
Ironman South Africa
Ironman Wales
Ironman Wisconsin
Ironman Cairns
Ironman Lake Placid
Ironman Texas
Ironman Hamburg

Overall Venue Experience
Ironman New Zealand
Ironman Western Australia
IronmanAustralia
Ironman France
Ironman Vichy
Ironman South Africa
Ironman Sweden
Ironman Wales
Ironman Texas
Ironman Lake Placid

Overall Host City Experience
Ironman New Zealand
Ironman Sweden
Ironman Lake Placid
Ironman Australia
Ironman Western Australia
Ironman Wales
Ironman Wisconsin
Ironman Chattanooga
Ironman Texas
Ironman Vichy

Post-Race Celebration Experience
Ironman South Africa
Ironman Lake Placid
Ironman Sweden
Ironman Mont Tremblant
Ironman Australia
Ironman Frankfurt
Ironman Texas
Ironman Cairns
Ironman Maryland
Ironman Western Australia