Ironman Announces Changes to 70.3 World Championship

Ironman announced today that the 2017 70.3 world championships will be returning to the United States. Three cities have been named finalists in the selection process: Chattanooga, Tenn., Lake Placid, N.Y., and St. George, Utah. The 2017 championships will also be following a new two-day event format- with professional women and age-group women racing on one day and professional men and age-group men racing on the other.

“With the global explosion of Ironman 70.3 races, we expect approximately 4,500 athletes from around the world to qualify for the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Championship, which is too many for a single day of racing,” said Andrew Messick, Ironman CEO. “We are focused on providing more opportunities for women to race with us globally and, after consulting with members of our Women For Tri Board, felt that having a separate race for female professional and age group athletes would be a strong step forward for our sport.”

The Ironman 70.3 world championship began rotating globally in 2014 in Mont-Tremblant, Que. This august, it will be hosted in Europe for the very first time in Zell am See-Kaprun, SalzburgerLand, Austria. The 2016 race will take place in Queensland, Australia’s sunshine coast.

“The rotation of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship has elevated the race and allowed athletes from all over the world to experience a World Championship event at fantastic locations,” added Messick. “The finalists for the 2017 championship are all tremendous hosts to IRONMAN races and provide courses well suited for an event of this caliber. These cities also provide our athletes and their families world-class hospitality and endless scenic and entertainment options.”

Many pros have voiced support for this move to a two-day format such as active supporter of the #50WomenToKona movement, Rachel Joyce.

This is is a fantastic move. Thanks @IRONMANtri . Imagine the spectator support for each day of racing. https://t.co/coTfyA9UDC

— Rachel Joyce (@RJoyce09) May 27, 2015

Ironman has not as yet announced  any changes to the disparity in qualifying spots for male and female pros at the World Championship races.

@IRONMANtri Will there be equal slots for women? Prove to us that separate is equal. Please #dotherightthing @tri_equal

— Sue Aquila (@fewoman) May 27, 2015

Read the complete release at Ironman.com