The VinFast Ironman World Championship’s Parade of Nations was held Monday afternoon in Kailua-Kona to celebrate approximately 5,000 triathletes who qualified for the elite race from about 90 countries.
More than a thousand of fans lined both sides of the route along Aliʻi Drive from Kamehameha Beach Hotel to Hale Halawai. The fans and athletes were chanting, singing and cheering during the festive event.
Just qualifying for the event is quite the feat. Each year, about 100,000 athletes compete in 49 qualifying races in 27 different countries for a spot in the Ironman World Championship. The races are Thursday for the elite women, all women’s age groups and some men’s age groups and Saturday for elite men and the remaining men’s age groups.
All gallery photos by Tiffany DeMasters, news director of Big Island Now.
