More than 2,000 athletes representing 68 countries and territories on six continents will compete in this year’s Ironman World Championship, which comprises a 2.4-mile swim, 112 miles of cycling and a 26.2-mile run, all of which must be completed within 17 hours in order for athletes to be recognized as official Ironman finishers.
The United States is the most represented country with 777 competitors, accounting for nearly 35 percent of registrants this year. Athletes from 49 U.S. states are represented, with the greatest number coming from California (123), Hawaii (61), Colorado (58), Texas (48) and New York (43).
Internationally, Australia has the most athletes competing with 297, followed by Germany (150), Canada (134), Great Britain (113) and France (88).
Additional historical facts and stats on the field competing this year:
• 72 percent of participants (1,570 athletes) are male
• 28 percent of participants (625 athletes) are female which marks the largest female field at the Ironman World Championship
• With 625 female participants there is a 9 percent increase in female participants from last year
• This will be the largest athlete field ever at the Ironman World Championship
• 92 race participants (54 males, 38 females), or 4 percent of the total field, are professional athletes
• Great Britain has produced the women’s Ironman World Championship winner in five out of the past seven years, with Chrissy Wellington winning four of those seven and Leanda Cave winning in 2012
• Australia has been dominant in the men’s field, claiming the men’s Ironman World Championship six of the past seven years with Craig Alexander winning three of the seven events and Pete Jacobs winning in 2012
• More than 5,000 volunteers will help make the event a success; Ironman globally relies on approximately 356,000 race volunteers per year
• More than 204,000 registered athletes representing over 200 countries and territories competed in Ironman and Ironman 70.3 races this year.