St. George instead of Hawaii: Ironman breaks with tradition

The corona pandemic is causing a triathlon novelty: For the first time in Ironman history since 1978, the world championship will not take place in Hawaii.

After the 2020 World Cup had to be completely canceled and the title decision in 2021 had already been postponed from October to the beginning of February, Ironman now gave the new date and above all the new, but only one-time World Cup location over 3.86 kilometers of swimming, 180, 2 kilometers of cycling and 42.2 kilometers of running are known.

On May 7, 2022 it should be in St. George, Utah. Just five months later, the cult race

so the plan

returns 

to its traditional location. However, on October 6th there will also be a separate race for the professional women for the first time. “I love it”, wrote Laura Philipp, who recently won the Ironman in Klagenfurt and finished fourth in the 2019 World Cup. The men will start on October 8th. "We expect unique and historic races in October 2022," said Ironman boss Andrew Messick. 50 athletes each should compete in the professional races. Information about the race of the many age group athletes is to be provided in the coming weeks.

So far, the World Championship in Hawaii has been a one-day racing event. As the reason for the initially one-time relocation from Hawaii to Utah, Ironman stated in a statement on Friday night the continuing unsafe situation in Kailua-Kona with a view to the corona pandemic. At the 70.3 World Championships in St. George recently, Messick had already indicated a relocation. The last time the World Cup was held in Hawaii in 2019 was Anne Haug for the first time in the women and for the third time Jan Frodeno in the men. In the coming year, the now 40-year-old will have the opportunity to add two more World Cup titles to his list of successes within five months.

For the top athletes, however, the repeated time shift also means a considerable change in training. Usually the qualifying competitions start in May. Since the corona pandemic, however, the racing calendar has been constantly changed and changed, and many races could not take place.

Swim in the Sand Hollow Reservoir in St. George.

Instead of partly wild Pacific with waves, the swimming times in the reservoir are likely to be below those in Hawaii.

The demanding bike route leads over a lap of 180.2 kilometers with a few meters of altitude.

Finally, with the change in St. George and the finish there, a loop to be run twice awaits the athletes.

"Events like the Ironman World Championship, which attracts athletes from around the world, are a great example of how much our state is committed to global sport," Utah Governor Spencer Cox was quoted as saying.