IRONMAN has announced that Louisville, Kentucky, will once again host an IRONMAN-branded event – with the new IRONMAN 70.3 Louisville triathlon scheduled to take place on Sunday, August 18, 2024.
Having run for consecutive years, from 2007 to 2019, IRONMAN Louisville in Kentucky was cancelled due to Covid-19 in 2020, with IRONMAN confirming that the full distance event would not return in 2021.
The new event brings the Kentucky venue back to the IRONMAN 70.3 racing circuit. General registration for the 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 Louisville triathlon opens on Wednesday, September 27, 2023.
“We are excited to return to one of our long-standing communities in Louisville, Kentucky,” said Eric Atnip, Regional Director for The IRONMAN Group.
“After hosting IRONMAN events for so many years, we know athletes will be thrilled once again to enjoy the race experience in this truly unique Kentucky venue. With many of the same course elements as before, we believe the IRONMAN 70.3 Louisville triathlon will be as popular as the previous IRONMAN events.
“We look forward to working with our partners at the Louisville Sports Commission to produce an unforgettable event that will excite athletes from all over.”
The 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 Louisville triathlon will begin with a 1.2-mile downriver swim in the Ohio River, near the same location as the original event. Athletes will then transition at the Great Lawn in Waterfront Park, to a scenic 56-mile bike course leaving Louisville and continuing to the rolling hills and countryside of Oldham County.
The 13.1-mile run will take athletes along the Ohio River and through several Louisville parks on the way back to a finish line experience downtown just as the original IRONMAN event did.
“Louisville takes pride in being one of America’s great sports towns and hosting IRONMAN again is a wonderful opportunity for our city,” said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg.
“IRONMAN is an iconic sports and lifestyle brand known all over the world and a great partner to our city. We look forward to welcoming the many hardworking athletes who will compete in these events starting next year in Louisville.”
Louisville Sports Commission President & CEO Greg Fante said “It’s exciting to welcome IRONMAN back to Louisville, this time with its IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon event.
“Our community can expect to see exceptional endurance athletes compete at a high level as they swim, bike and run through Louisville and Oldham County. We hope spectators are inspired by the athletes and decide to train so they too can compete.”
He continued, “We’d like to thank all of our partners, especially Louisville Tourism, Louisville Metro, Waterfront Development Corp, Oldham County, Louisville Water., Fourth Street Live!, and the local hospitality industry. This opportunity to host an IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon would not be possible without their continued support.”
Norton Sports Health, which offers the Louisville area sports-related injury prevention and treatment programs, will be returning to oversee the athlete recovery centre and support IRONMAN personnel throughout the course of the event as the main medical provider for the new IRONMAN 70.3 Louisville triathlon.
The 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 Louisville triathlon will offer age-group qualifying slots to the 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon.
