Another day, another triathlon impacted by Hurricane Helene as the devastating storm continues to wreak havoc in the United States.
A state of emergency has been declared in several southern states, and this weekend’s key triathlon events have been impacted in the last 24 hours as the storm moves inland.
Late on Thursday the swim at IRONMAN Chattanooga on Sunday was cancelled, and now it is IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta – also scheduled for Sunday September 29, in the spotlight.
On Friday evening organisers announced that the difficult decision to cancel Sunday’s race has been made with weather conditions – and their impact – worsening.
IRONMAN 70.3 August cancelled
An IRONMAN statement read: “Throughout race week IRONMAN has been working with local partners, authorities, and meteorologists to assess the trajectory and potential impact of Hurricane Helene. While initial projections looked like we would be able to continue as planned, based on the significant impact caused by the storm overnight, IRONMAN and local Augusta officials have mutually agreed that it is necessary to cancel the 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta triathlon scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 29.
“The storm moved further east than expected overnight and key venues sustained substantial damage with downed power lines and trees, and an overwhelming amount of rainfall leading to flooding, all impacting the area. Additionally, 200,000 residents are without power and medical services have been redirected to support the local community during this time of need, making them unavailable to support the race. As things worsened overnight, it became very clear that this was the only decision that could be made in the interest of the safety of our athletes, volunteers, staff, and the well-being of the Augusta community.
Athlete options
“We understand the disappointment that this may cause and appreciate the understanding of our athletes based on these extenuating conditions, as the safety of our athletes, volunteers, staff, and host community remains at the forefront of any decision making regarding our events. Athletes will receive further communication regarding athlete options in the coming days.”
All our thoughts are with those affected by Hurricane Helene.
