IRONMAN to Move World Championship From Hawai`i to Utah

IRONMAN announced Thursday that its World Championship event will move outside of Hawai`i for the first time next year.

The race will take place in St. George, Utah on May 7, 2022, prior to returning to Kailua-Kona with a new two-day race format on Oct. 6 and 8, 2022.

IRONMAN said the decision took place in collaboration with both Greater Zion and St. George, Utah officials and local and state Hawai`i officials, adding that the ongoing uncertainty regarding Hawai´i’s “ability to host the event in February required a change in venue to outside of Hawai`i for the first time since the inaugural event in 1978.”
 
St. George will also host the 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship on Oct. 28-29, 2022. 

IRONMAN World Championship Returns to Kona in October 2022 with Two-Day Race Format
 
For the first time in the 40-plus year history of the IRONMAN World Championship, the pinnacle event for triathlon will take place over two days with the 2022 IRONMAN World Championship returning to Kona on Oct. 6 and 8, 2022. The two-day event will see an expanded women’s professional field of 50 athletes race on Thursday, Oct. 6, and 50 professional men race on Saturday, Oct. 8. Details of the age-group races will be communicated in the coming weeks.
 
“We expect the races in October of 2022 to be unique and historic,” said Andrew Messick, President & Chief Executive Officer for The IRONMAN Group. “Two days of racing in Kailua-Kona addresses the overwhelming demand from athletes to race in a World Championship and will allow us to host our deferred athletes and place more emphasis on showcasing our women’s and men’s professional races.”

Big Island government and tourism officials spoke to the changes via an official press release.
 
“We are excited to work in collaboration with IRONMAN to bring two events home to Hawaiʻi Island in October of 2022,” said Hawai`i County Mayor Mitch Roth. “As our island’s premier sporting event, IRONMAN has been a trusted community partner for over 40 years, and we’re ever grateful for their willingness and ability to adapt to our community’s needs and contribute to its vibrancy.”
  
“The loss of the past two IRONMAN World Championship races certainly dealt us an economic blow. Our restaurants have always received a big boost from the race, athletes, and their families. We are very excited to hear that with two races next October we can plan to make up for the economic losses from the past two race cancellations,” said Luana Hospitality Principal, Eric von Platen Luder.

IRONMAN athletes registered for the 2021 and 2022 editions of the IRONMAN World Championship triathlon, along with athletes currently registered for 2022 IRONMAN St. George, will be contacted directly with additional information.

For more information and event details for the IRONMAN World Championship, visit www.ironman.com/im-world-championship.