Women’s Professional Field Announced for 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, France

September 4, 2024

– The world’s best female triathletes and age-groupers set to compete in Nice, France at 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship

– Defending IRONMAN World Champion Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) headlines the field chasing back-to-back titles, while fellow 2023 podium finishers Anne Haug (DEU) and Laura Philipp (DEU) also make a return

– Other challengers include 2022 IRONMAN World Champion Chelsea Sodaro (USA), 2x IRONMAN North American Champion Kat Matthews (GBR), IRONMAN European Champion Jackie Hering (USA), and IRONMAN Asia Pacific Champion Hannah Berry (NZL)

– The VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon will offer a maximum of 6,000 IRONMAN Pro Series points for the winner

NICE, France / TAMPA, Fla. (Sept. 4, 2024) /SPORTSWIRE WOMEN/ – An elite field of the world’s best professional female triathletes, including three former IRONMAN^® World Champions, are preparing to compete in Nice, France for the women’s edition of the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship^® triathlon. On Sunday 22 September, professional and age-group women will race an IRONMAN World Championship event in Europe for the first time in history.

“This year’s women’s professional race promises to be as competitive as ever, with Nice offering a breathtakingly beautiful and challenging course that will test our athletes to the fullest – their strength and endurance, their mental fortitude, and ultimately their will to win,” said Scott DeRue, CEO of The IRONMAN Group. “We will all be on the edge of our seat watching how these extraordinary women race to the finish, and I wish all those competing the very best of luck.”

The most iconic endurance event in the world will bring together over 50 of the world’s top professional female triathletes to compete for the coveted title of IRONMAN World Champion, 6,000 IRONMAN Pro Series™ points, as well as a piece of the $375,000 professional prize purse, with the winner taking home $125,000. Live race day coverage of the women’s 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon will be broadcast for free across multiple platforms for global viewers including proseries.ironman.com, Outside TV in the U.S. and Canada, DAZN, L’Équipe in France, and YouTube, among others.

The inaugural IRONMAN Pro Series adds another layer of excitement and competition to the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship this year, as 17 of the top 20 professional athletes in the standings will be battling it out for series points and end of year bonus prize money.

The Women’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship race in Nice offers a maximum of 6,000 points to the winner, 1,000 more points than the other full-distance IRONMAN triathlons in the series. With only 4,516 points separating current Pro Series leader, Jackie Hering from 10th place in the standings, Fenella Langridge, this points premium means that athletes have everything to race for, as we can expect to see the biggest shake up of the Series yet.

Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) will wear the number one bib as the reigning IRONMAN World Champion. Her 2023 victory was momentous as Charles-Barclay became the first woman in 45+ year IRONMAN World Championship history to lead from cannon to tape on her way to setting a new women’s course best time in Kona. In preparation to chase back-to-back IRONMAN World Championship titles, Charles-Barclay raced – and won – the 2024 IRONMAN France triathlon, held in Nice, boding well for her title defence.

Joining Charles-Barclay on the start line are two German athletes who completed last year’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship podium. Anne Haug (DEU) already has one IRONMAN World Championship title to her name, earned in 2019, and last year set a new women’s run course best on her way to second place. Meanwhile, compatriot Laura Philipp (DEU) has never finished lower than fourth in her three previous IRONMAN World Championship attempts, with last year’s third place her best result.

Chelsea Sodaro (USA) is another IRONMAN World Champion toeing the start line in Nice. Sodaro followed up her impressive 2022 victory with a sixth-place finish at last year’s IRONMAN World Championship race. After a great start to the season which saw the American claim victories at the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Tasmania and ANZCO IRONMAN New Zealand triathlons, Sodaro will be hoping to land another big result on the global stage.

In pursuit of a maiden IRONMAN World Championship crown and the inaugural IRONMAN Pro Series title is Kat Matthews (GBR). The 2024 IRONMAN North American Champion is one for the big occasion, previously landing runner up positions in both the 2021 IRONMAN World Championship and 2023 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship races. Matthews will be looking to put last year’s DNF in Kona behind her as she targets victory in Nice – a result that would also improve her position in the IRONMAN Pro Series standings, where she currently sits fifth.

Others to watch at this year’s event include 2024 IRONMAN European Champion and current IRONMAN Pro Series leader Jackie Hering (USA), along with Danielle Lewis (USA), Maja Stage Nielsen (DEN), and Els Visser (NLD), who sit in second, third and fourth respectively in the IRONMAN Pro Series standings, among a host of others.

Hoping for a local advantage will be three French athletes in Marjolaine Pierré, Julie Iemmolo, and Jeanne Collonge.

As a nod to the immense triathlon history that exists in the European birthplace of long-distance triathlon that is Nice, France, the race will be centred around the “Promenade des Anglais”, Nice’s most famous walkway – and an iconic location which has seen some of triathlon’s elite race to victory, including eight-time IRONMAN World Champion Paula Newby-Fraser who also had four victories at the Triathlon International de Nice.

Beginning with the Mediterranean Sea swim, athletes will enter the water from the Promenade des Anglais and follow a double rectangular out and back course in the water, before embarking on one of the most iconic bike courses in all of the triathlon world. Technical and challenging but rewarding in its beauty, athletes will take in the rooftop villages of Vence, Gourdon and Tourettes-sur-Loup on the ascent, before they cruise down the “Route de Thorenc” and through the “Clues de Gréolières” on the descent, famous for its stunning feature film backdrop scenery.

The flat four lap run course will take runners up and down the glitzy Promenade des Anglais, giving them the opportunity to soak up the Mediterranean Sea and infamous Chaises Bleues (blue chairs) on one side, and the luxury hotels and casinos on the other, while gaining encouragement by the crowds gathered at multiple spectator friendly points.

Further details of the course can be found here.

A full list of professional women’s field listed below*:

*Subject to change

“A Fighting Chance”

Follow the @ironmantri social channels for a behind the scenes view of what it takes to have a chance at world-title glory. The ‘A Fighting Chance’ IRONMAN series will drop two new pre-race episodes on September 17 and September 20, giving audiences a glimpse of what it takes to prepare for race day, as well as the staging behind such an iconic event. Find live race-day coverage of the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Nice and in Kona globally via proseries.ironman.com.

To submit an interest in receiving media credentials, fill in the World Championship Credentials Request form.

For more information about the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship women’s race in Nice, France please visit www.ironman.com/im-world-championship-2024. To learn more about the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 brands and series of events, please visit www.ironman.com. Media inquiries may be directed to press@ironman.com.

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About the IRONMAN World Championship

Since its inception in 1978 on the Island of O`ahu, the IRONMAN World Championship<sup>®</sup> triathlon has etched its name in history through stellar performances, inspirational participants and emotional memories. In 1981, the race moved from the tranquil shores of Waikīkī to the barren lava fields of Kona on the Island of Hawai`i. The most iconic one-day sporting event in the world is the culmination of 40 global IRONMAN events with over 94,000 athletes around the world striving for one of the coveted qualifying slots. The 2021 edition of the event took place in St. George, Utah in May 2022, becoming the first location to host the event outside of Hawai`i since its origins in 1978. After a two-year hiatus from Hawai`i due to COVID, the race returned to Kailua-Kona in 2022 and for the first time took place as a two-day event. The 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship race continued with the two-day format but with two different host locations and dates (Nice, France in September and Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i in October), to allow for a dedicated world championship race for women and dedicated world championship race for men. The cumulative event hosted over 4,000 athletes embarking on a 140.6-mile journey that presents the ultimate test of body, mind, and spirit to earn the title of IRONMAN World Champion. In 2024, the women will rotate to Nice, France while the men return to Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i for their respective world championship host locations. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/im-world-championship.

About IRONMAN Pro Series

The IRONMAN Pro Series™ is a year-long performance-based world series that will see professional triathletes earn points at 20 select races in 19 locations globally to vie for the title of IRONMAN Pro Series Champion and a share of the lucrative USD $1.7 million year-end bonus prize pool. Athletes will also continue to battle for each individual event’s prize money equating to over USD $2.5 million and coveted world championship qualifying slots. The IRONMAN Pro Series will consist of six full-distance IRONMAN^® triathlons and 10 half-distance IRONMAN^® 70.3^® triathlons in addition to the split location women’s and men’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship^® triathlons and two-day women’s and men’s VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlons. Open to approximately 1,000 eligible professional triathletes worldwide, the IRONMAN Pro Series will usher in a new era of IRONMAN racing where Every Second Matters with every second behind the race winner equating to a point earned or lost. Incorporating iconic distances, challenging courses, and stunning destinations, every IRONMAN Pro Series race will be broadcast live and free to a global audience. An additional 18 events throughout 2024 will also offer IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 professional racing and world championship qualifying opportunities, as well as over USD $1.6 million in prize money to create a total 2024 professional prize purse of nearly USD $6 million. For more information, visit proseries.ironman.com.

About The IRONMAN Group

The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Running Series, IRONKIDS^®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf^®, UTMB^® World Series trail-running events including the Canyons Endurance Runs™ by UTMB^®, Tarawera Ultra-Trail™ by UTMB^® and Ultra-Trail Australia™ by UTMB^®, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, road cycling events, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world, providing participants the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Catering to the full athlete experience, the company portfolio also includes FulGaz^® virtual cycling, the most realistic indoor riding experience connected fitness application aimed at preparing athletes for real-world events. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN^® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business, and Orkila Capital, a growth equity firm focused on building great brands. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.

About Advance 

Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications, education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the value of our companies over the long-term by fostering growth and innovation. Advance’s portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin, and Pop. Together these operating companies employ more than 14,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Warner Bros. Discovery and Reddit. For more information visit www.advance.com.