Interesting Ironman race statistics
The Ironman 70.3 Mossel Bay competition takes place this Sunday from Santos Beach, with more than 2 500 athletes from South Africa and abroad competing.
Key statistics about the event:
27% of the competitors are women. 42% of the participants hail from the Western Cape, 30% from Gauteng, and 7% from the Eastern Cape.
There is a field of 21 professional athletes. Mossel Bay boasts the African TriClub Championship.
This will be the second Ironman Mossel Bay. Last year was the first.
Michele Bronkhorst, Ironman South Africa operations director, said: "Mossel Bay carries a rich history and is a beautiful tourist destination, catering to both internationals and locals."
She said it was easily accessible, being a few minutes away from George Airport and only a four-hour drive from Cape Town.
Last year’s winner, Bradley Weiss, and runners-up Matt Trautman and Cameron Macnair, are all back this year. Also racing in the men’s professional field will be fellow South Africans Keegan Cooke, Gerhard de Bruin and Timothy Hayward.
From abroad
Key athletes from abroad will be Javier Gomez (twice Ironman 70.3 world champion and Olympic silver medallist), Domenico Passuello, Balaza Csoke and Tom Hug.
In the women’s professional field is reigning champion Emma Pallant-Browne (Britain), who came fourth in this year’s VinFast Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Lahti, Finland.
Living in South Africa, Pallant-Browne is no stranger to South Africa climates, and she also comes off a strong season, which saw two Ironman 70.3 victories in Swansea and Aix-en-Provence.
Pallant-Browne will be challenged by South African Magda Nieuwoudt and fellow Briton Laura Addie.
Much of the excitement of the race surrounds qualifying for the 2024 VinFast Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Taupo New Zealand. Athletes will be giving it their all as they seek a once in a lifetime opportunity of racing in this world championship in December next year.
The Ironman 4 the Kidz charity trust, known as Team Orange, will have 50 athletes racing to "Be A Hero". The Ironman 4 the Kidz Charity's aim is to raise funds annually, ensuring that the trust can continue to make a tangible difference in the lives of children in need.
To support and sponsor an Ironman 4 the Kidz Hero, go to www.ironman4thekidz. co.za. For more information on the Ironman 0.3 Mossel Bay, see www.ironman.com/ im703-mossel-bay.