100+ pro athletes at 2026 Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas

The 2026 Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas North American Championship triathlon will welcome more than 100 professional triathletes to The Woodlands, TX, on April 18, 2026.

As the first full–distance IRONMAN triathlon in North America for the 2026 Experience Oman IRONMAN Pro Series, the event offers a US$175,000 professional prize purse and a maximum of 5,000 IRONMAN Pro Series points.

The race also serves as the IRONMAN North American Championship and offers six qualifying slots per gender for the 2026 IRONMAN World Championship.

In addition to the professional field, more than 3,000 age group athletes will compete at the 2026 Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas North American Championship triathlon alongside the professionals on the same course, looking to earn age group qualifying slots to the 2026 IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Kona, Hawai`i on October 10, 2026.

In the women’s professional field, Kat Matthews (GBR) enters as the two-time reigning IRONMAN Pro Series champion and the current leader in the 2026 standings. She is joined by reigning IRONMAN World Champion Solveig Løvseth (NOR) and three-time IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Taylor Knibb (USA), who recently secured a victory at IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside.

Other top contenders in the women’s race include:

• Hannah Berry (NZL), runner up at the 2026 IRONMAN New Zealand
• Lisa Perterer (AUT), who finished third in the 2025 series
• Sara Svensk (SWE), runner up at the 2025 IRONMAN Cozumel
• Jackie Hering (USA), the 2024 IRONMAN Pro Series runner up

The men’s field features a high concentration of championship talent, led by Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR). The reigning IRONMAN Pro Series champion and 2026 series leader arrives in Texas following consecutive IRONMAN 70.3 wins in Geelong and Oceanside.

He is joined by fellow Norwegian IRONMAN World Champions Casper Stornes and Gustav Iden. The Norwegian contingent has reportedly completed a targeted training block in Texas to prepare for the local conditions.

The men’s start list also includes:

• Patrick Lange (DEU), a three-time IRONMAN World Champion and two-time IRONMAN Texas winner
• Marten Van Riel (BEL), who transitions to the full distance following success in shorter formats
• Jonas Schomburg (DEU), who recently finished second at IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside
• Rudy Von Berg (USA), the 2023 IRONMAN Texas champion
• Jelle Geens (BEL), the reigning two-time IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion, who will make his full-distance IRONMAN debut

The event will be broadcast live and free for international audiences via the IRONMAN YouTube channel and the IRONMAN Pro Series website. Additional coverage will be available through DAZN, L’Équipe Live, and ESPN.

Professional athlete start lists, (subject to change):

www.ironman.com

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