Ironman will not host any more US events in 2020

It seemed like it was just a matter of time – today Ironman announced that it “will not host any further events in the United States leading to the cancelation of Ironman 70.3 Florida” in Haines City.

Recently Ironman has been forced to cancel events in Arizona (Ironman Arizona and Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona), Tennessee (Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville) and Texas (Ironman 70.3 Texas-Galveston and Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio).

According to a release from the company today, even though events had been held in some of those locations just a few weeks earlier – Ironman 70.3 Arizona, for example – “the dramatic shift of conditions particularly in Arizona, Florida and Texas has changed the ability to responsibly host events.”

“With COVID-19 infections on the rise around the United States, we are not comfortable hosting any further events in 2020,” said Andrew Messick, Ironman Group president and CEO. “While we remain confident that our Safe Return to Racing Guidelines will protect athletes, volunteers and staff, the public health environment at this moment is not conducive to any type of mass gatherings. We expect to be back in action for 2021 with events that follow guidelines and recommendations consistent with the expectations set by public health entities and our race communities.”

Related: Here’s what athletes can expect when they return to racing in North America