For the first time in the event’s short history, Ironman China and Ironman 70.3 China have sold out all international and regional entries for the 29 May event.
At least 900 competitors, including over 100 mainland Chinese, are signed up and preparing for their Ironman adventure in China in just over two months’ time. While entries for mainland Chinese remain open, the current sign-up already far exceeds the number of Chinese that raced in any of the event’s previous editions held on Hainan Island.
“In a few years we hope to look back to the 2011 race as the beginning of an Ironman boom in China,” said Murphy Reinschreiber, Ironman’s Managing Director for Asia Pacific.
“We are pleased by the response to the venue and later race date and by the increase in the number of mainland Chinese entries. Jixian, Tianjin, is easily accessible to China’s growing fitness and endurance participant base.”
Japanese competitors make up the biggest group traveling from abroad with 154 heading to Jixian in May. Singapore competitors making up the next largest contingent at 72, and Australia will send 63 starters for the spring event.
Hong Kong, the Philippines, and the United States are all strongly represented as well, building on the strong international flavour of the IM China and IM China 70.3 events.
For those registered for Ironman China and Ironman 70.3 China, hotel and transport information is now available online at the event website. Further information related to the event will be emailed out in the coming weeks.
For those wanting to compete in China in 2011, fewer than ten Ironman 70.3 relay places remain on offer. These places do not qualify for the Ironman World Championship 70.3.
Ironman China features 50 qualifying slots to the 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship, held in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii on Saturday 8 October. 25 qualifying slots are on offer in the Ironman 70.3 China event for the 2011 Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Lake Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday 11 September.
The race is also a qualifier for the 2011 Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship, held in Laguna Phuket, Thailand, on Sunday 4 December.
