IRONMAN has announced that the 2023 Itaú BBA IRONMAN 70.3 Fortaleza triathlon has been selected to host this year’s IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Championship race.
Hosted in the capital of the northeastern Brazilian state of Ceará, the Brazilian IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon is scheduled to take place on November 19, 2023 at Iracema Beach in Fortaleza.
“We are thrilled to bring the IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Championship triathlon to this longstanding Brazilian IRONMAN 70.3 event here in Fortaleza,” said Joanna Jordan, Vice President – Managing Director of Latin America for The IRONMAN Group.
“Fortaleza has continued to provide athletes an unparalleled race experience since it first began hosting IRONMAN events in 2014. We could not be more proud to see the event host some of the best athletes from around the world this fall in a Brazilian paradise now with this prestigious designation.”
Carlos Galvão, CEO of Unlimited Sports, which owns and operates IRONMAN branded events in Brazil, said “It is an honour for us to host the IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Championship triathlon.
“The race gains strength, technical level, and becomes even more attractive for athletes, both professionals and amateurs, as well as for the audience in Fortaleza, who will witness some of the main highlights from the national and international circuit up close. Undoubtedly, it is a valuable recognition for our second oldest event on the calendar of our sport.”
Fortaleza has a long history with IRONMAN branded events, having hosted seven Brazilian events, second only to Florianópolis, which has had 21 editions of the Itaú BBA IRONMAN Brazil triathlon.
Fortaleza’s debut event was held in 2014 when it hosted the full-distance IRONMAN Fortaleza triathlon. In 2017, the event transitioned to an IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon.
The latest announcement marks the third time that Brazil will play host to the IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Championship race, after Brasília hosted the first edition of the regional championship in 2015 and Palmas in 2016.
The 2023 Itaú BBA IRONMAN 70.3 Fortaleza triathlon kicks off with a rolling start, leading into a single-loop 1.2-mile (1.9-km) swim at Iracema Beach. Once athletes exit the water, they will head onto a single-loop 56-mile (90-km) flat and fast bike course.
After finishing a three-loop 13.1-mile (21-km) run course athletes will be greeted by a finish line looking out at one of Brazil’s most popular beaches.
The professional field of athletes will vie for a US$50,000 prize purse and three professional qualifying slots for IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship for the professional men and women to the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon taking place on December 14-15, 2024 in Taupō, New Zealand.
In addition, the 2023 Itaú BBA IRONMAN 70.3 Fortaleza triathlon will offer 75 age group qualifying slots to the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon.
The Itaú BBA IRONMAN 70.3 Fortaleza triathlon continues to be a top choice for athletes, ranking in the top ten in multiple categories in IRONMAN’s 2022 Global Athlete’s Choice Awards, including being voted first globally for post-race celebration experience.
