NOUVEAU SOUFFLE DAILY: 2024 VINFAST
IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
RACE WEEK RECAP FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
NICE, France (Sep. 20, 2024) - Inspiring female athletes past and present took centre stage at last night’s VIP Function and throughout today. Hall of Fame Inductees Fernanda Keller and Kathleen McCartney were celebrated for their years of achievement on and off the course, while this morning at the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship Press Conference, 10 of the top female professional athletes in the world racing in Nice shared their pre-race thoughts. And this afternoon, four incredible age group athletes spoke about their personal story and journey to the World Championship start line during the IRONMAN Ambassador Athlete Panel.
The women's 2024 VinFast IRONMAN® World Championship triathlon in Nice, France takes place on Sunday, Sept 22. For the first time women will race the pinnacle event of triathlon in the French Riviera, and for the second time Nice will play dual host to the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship.
The Pros Take Centre Stage: This morning’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship Press Conference began with opening remarks from CEO of The IRONMAN Group, Scott DeRue and Nice Delegate for Sporting Events, José Cobos, before ten of the top female professional triathletes in the world racing in Nice shared their insights on the competition, course, and preparation ahead of race day. The most popular themes centred on the athletes’ love for Nice and its relaxed vibes and beautiful scenery, as well as their excitement around tackling the challenging but breathtaking bike course.
Athlete Ambassador Panel: Four inspirational age group athletes joined the IRONMAN Ambassador Athlete Panel in the VinFast IRONMAN Village to share their personal journey's to the start line in Nice. The diverse and international panel was made up of Lucy Bartholomew (AUS), who for the second time is set to complete the UTMB World Series Finals and IRONMAN World Championship in the same year; Emilie Bonnet (FRA), who overcame the odds to make it to the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship after suffering a serious knee injury in a skiing accident; Pauline Green (GBR), for whom triathlon became a way to work through her grief after losing her husband to Glioblastoma; and Monica Puig (Puerto Rico/USA), an Olympic gold medalist who was forced to retire from professional tennis at 26 and then found triathlon as a way to replace her competitive spirit and passions.
Hall of Fame Inductees Honored at VIP Reception: Influential and legendary IRONMAN athletes Fernanda Keller (BRA) and Kathleen McCartney (USA) were honored last night at the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship VIP Reception, as they were inducted into the IRONMAN Hall of Fame, recognizing their contribution to the sport. Fernanda and Kathleen were celebrated for their accomplishments on the race course, for which the list is long, but more importantly for their giving back to their communities away from the race course.
“A Fighting Chance”: Episode 2 of 'A Fighting Chance' presented by Wahoo Fitness is now live on IRONMAN Triathlon's You Tube Channel, giving viewers an intimate glimpse into the days leading up to race day of the women's VinFast IRONMAN World Championship. The episode features a behind the scenes look at professional athletes Anne Haug (DEU), Chelsea Sodaro (USA), Laura Philipp (DEU), and Hannah Berry (NZL) as they prepare for the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, France.
PHOTOS ©Nils Nilsen
About the IRONMAN World Championship
Since its inception in 1978 on the Island of O`ahu, the IRONMAN World Championship® triathlon has etched its name in history through stellar performances, inspirational participants and emotional memories. In 1981, the race moved from the tranquil shores of Waikīkī to the barren lava fields of Kona on the Island of Hawai`i. The most iconic one-day sporting event in the world is the culmination of 40 global IRONMAN events with over 94,000 athletes around the world striving for one of the coveted qualifying slots. The 2021 edition of the event took place in St. George, Utah in May 2022, becoming the first location to host the event outside of Hawai`i since its origins in 1978. After a two-year hiatus from Hawai`i due to COVID, the race returned to Kailua-Kona in 2022 and for the first time took place as a two-day event. The 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship race continued with the two-day format but with two different host locations and dates (Nice, France in September and Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i in October), to allow for a dedicated world championship race for women and dedicated world championship race for men. The cumulative event hosted over 4,000 athletes embarking on a 140.6-mile journey that presents the ultimate test of body, mind, and spirit to earn the title of IRONMAN World Champion. In 2024, the women will rotate to Nice, France while the men return to Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i for their respective world championship host locations. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/im-world-championship.
About IRONMAN Pro Series
The IRONMAN Pro Series™ is a year-long performance-based world series that will see professional triathletes earn points at 20 select races in 19 locations globally to vie for the title of IRONMAN Pro Series Champion and a share of the lucrative USD $1.7 million year-end bonus prize pool. Athletes will also continue to battle for each individual event’s prize money equating to over USD $2.5 million and coveted world championship qualifying slots. The IRONMAN Pro Series will consist of six full-distance IRONMAN® triathlons and 10 half-distance IRONMAN® 70.3® triathlons in addition to the split location women’s and men’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship® triathlons and two-day women’s and men’s VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlons. Open to approximately 1,000 eligible professional triathletes worldwide, the IRONMAN Pro Series will usher in a new era of IRONMAN racing where Every Second Matters with every second behind the race winner equating to a point earned or lost. Incorporating iconic distances, challenging courses, and stunning destinations, every IRONMAN Pro Series race will be broadcast live and free to a global audience. An additional 18 events throughout 2024 will also offer IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 professional racing and world championship qualifying opportunities, as well as over USD $1.6 million in prize money to create a total 2024 professional prize purse of nearly USD $6 million. For more information, visit proseries.ironman.com.
About The IRONMAN Group
The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series, IRONKIDS®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf®, UTMB® World Series trail-running events including the Canyons Endurance Runs™ by UTMB®, Tarawera Ultra-Trail™ by UTMB® and Ultra-Trail Australia™ by UTMB®, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, road cycling events, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world, providing participants the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Catering to the full athlete experience, the company portfolio also includes FulGaz® virtual cycling, the most realistic indoor riding experience connected fitness application aimed at preparing athletes for real-world events. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business, and Orkila Capital, a growth equity firm focused on building great brands. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.
About Advance
Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications, education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the value of our companies over the long-term by fostering growth and innovation. Advance’s portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin, and Pop. Together these operating companies employ more than 14,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Warner Bros. Discovery and Reddit. For more information visit www.advance.com.
ROYAL ARTS VISIONS; IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP NICE FRANCE 2024