USA Triathlon will host its first-ever USA Triathlon Military and First Responders National Championships this June to honour the service and sacrifice of military as well as police, fire and EMS personnel in the multisport community.
The inaugural event will be held on Sunday, June 6, in Hammond, Indiana, in conjunction with Leon’s Triathlon. The long-standing event in Indiana is dubbed ‘America’s Race’ for its ‘legacy of honouring and empowering US service men and women, especially injured military veterans.’
The 2021 event will take place on the 77th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy, at Wolf Lake Memorial Park – a 25-minute drive from downtown Chicago. Leon’s Triathlon is broadcast annually through its partnerships with NBC and Comcast SportsNet, premiering over the Fourth of July holiday.
The Military and First Responders National Championships will include: Sprint-distance (500m swim, 11.6-mile bike, 3.1-mile run); and Olympic-distance (1,500m swim, 23.2-mile bike, 6.2-mile run) events.
In both distances, the following categories will be honoured for men and women:
- Overall Military – Active Duty;
- Overall Military – Retired/Veteran;
- Overall First Responder – Police/Law Enforcement; and
- Overall First Responder – Fire/EMS.
The sprint-distance event will also feature three categories for Paratriathlon Military and Paratriathlon First Responders: Ambulatory, Wheelchair and Visually Impaired.
Eligible athletes can register from Friday, February 19, at noon CST (13:00 EST) at leonstriathlon.com. The event does not require qualification.
“USA Triathlon is proud to recognize, honour and support our nation’s military and first responders through our first-ever USA Triathlon Military and First Responders National Championships,” said Rocky Harris, USA Triathlon CEO.
“Leon’s Triathlon will be an incredible host for this event. Participants and spectators alike will be in awe of the race’s commitment to celebrating and empowering these populations, while offering a world-class course and convenient spectating.
“Current and aspiring triathletes with military and first responder backgrounds, including paratriathletes, are encouraged to participate in what is sure to be an inspiring and impactful event.”
Founded in 1983 by Leon Wolek, Leon’s Triathlon has a long history of military multisport competition. In 1995, Leon’s Triathlon hosted the world’s first Military Championship, which was a qualifier for the inaugural 1995 Military World Games in Rome.
Leon’s Triathlon also hosted the 2015 US Armed Forces Triathlon Championship and continues to work closely with Armed Forces Sports. In addition, the race served as the USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships – USA Triathlon’s largest and longest-running National Championships event – in 1992 and 1993.
The event has long offered special first responder and military competitions, including paratriathlon categories. The Dare2Tri Paratriathlon Club’s injured military camp has been held in conjunction with race weekend since 2015. Given the camp’s strong history, Dare2tri will also host a paratriathlon coaching certification course over the 2021 race weekend.
Leon’s Triathlon partners with a variety of other local, state and national initiatives and organizations throughout the year to recognize and give back to military and first responders.
“We are extremely humbled, grateful and honoured to serve the fine women and men of the military and first responders of America,” said Leon Wolek, Founder of Leon’s Triathlon. “Without their services, all of the sports we enjoy every day would not be possible.
“We look forward to welcoming participants and their families to the crossroads of America next summer and showcasing our Hoosier hospitality.”
The 2021 event will be held with COVID-19 safety precautions in place according to State of Indiana guidelines and USA Triathlon’s Safe Return to Multisport initiative.
Race capacity and spectator access will be limited. Athletes may experience temperature checks, face coverings, reduced touchpoints and increased disinfecting practices. Exact details will be communicated in advance of race weekend.
Leon’s Triathlon will also serve as the 2021 USA Triathlon Indiana State Championships and North Central Regional Paratriathlon Special Qualifier, which qualifies athletes for the 2021 Toyota USA Paratriathlon National Championships.
www.usatriathlon.org/nationalchampionships
www.leonstriathlon.com
