Thousands of athletes and spectators descended on Swansea and the Gower in South Wales on Sunday, August 7th. The first IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea event, and the first ever 70.3-distance IRONMAN event in Wales, saw close to 2,000 competitors take on the 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, and 13.1-mile run course.
With a field of 35 professional athletes from across the globe, the first IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea Champion titles went to two of Britain’s best male and female triathletes, Alistair Brownlee and Kat Matthews.
63% of the overall athlete field raced for Wales, with over 700 athletes from the Swansea area taking to the middle-distance course. Topping the Tri Club podium were local clubs Celtic Tri, Swansea Vale Tri, and the Port Talbot Harriers, who collectively brought 160 of their affiliated athletes to compete in the event.
IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea reportedly sold out over 2,000 places in less than four days and brought an estimated economic boost upward of £2.5m to the region. Returning to Swansea until at least 2024, the event will look to continue growing its popularity and visibility over the coming years.
Sam Brawn, Regional Director for UK & Ireland at The IRONMAN Group, said “Following the success of IRONMAN Wales in Pembrokeshire, it was only a matter of time before we introduced our first 70.3 distance to the region.
“Not only does South Wales have a flourishing triathlon community, but the support offered both by our host venues and the local communities is unparalleled. We’re excited to watch this race grow, as it will surely become a key fixture on the European calendar of events.”
