This weekend will see the eight edition of Challenge The Championship – Challenge Family’s qualification-only event in Šamorín, Slovakia, which sees the top age-groupers and elite stars line up to battle it out over the middle distance.
Past winners include IRONMAN World Champions Lucy Charles-Barclay, Sebastian Kienle and Gustav Iden, with the course records held by defending champions India Lee and Mathis Margirier.
In our look back at the history of the event, we explore the factors that make the race so special and explain why The Championship is a staple of the racing calendar.
A brilliant race course
Having hosted the World Triathlon Long Distance Championships in 2022, and the Collins Cup in 2021 and 2022, Šamorín and the x-bionic sphere have firmly established themselves as a centrepiece for triathlon racing in Central Europe.
Located on the banks of the Danube River, the x-bionic sphere and the surrounding area is a brilliant location for triathlon racing, and the venue, coupled with the atmosphere created by the amateur athletes and local fans, is incredible.
On race day, spectators line the course, with the run in particular, which consists of five laps over varied terrain, very fan friendly and always drawing a roaring crowd.
Doubling as the National Triathlon Centre for Slovakia, the x-bionic sphere is a multi-sport paradise, and as a result ‘The Championship’ attracts amateur athletes for both a brilliant race and a fantastic holiday.
Top class competition
Another reason why The Championship is so popular is its status as a battle between the best athletes in the world, with triathlon world champions regularly choosing to make the trip over to Slovakia.
Case in point, this year we’ll see legends of the sport Jonny Brownlee and Richard Varga line up as part of a star-studded male PRO start list. And on the women’s side you’ve got powerhouses like Sara Perez Sala and Alanis Siffert ready to put on a masterclass in middle distance racing.
Going further back in the race’s history Lucy Charles-Barclay, with IRONMAN, IRONMAN 70.3 and World Long Distance titles to her name, is the most successful athlete in the history of the race, with three successive victories spanning from 2017 to 2019 at the x-bionic sphere.
The likes of Kienle, Iden and Lionel Sanders, who have all won here. And it’s often the best place to get a feel for who might be the next gen triathlon stars, too.
2024 was another bumper year of racing for The Championship. India Lee made it successive titles and set a new course record, with rising star Laura Madsen – one to watch in years to come once she returns from injury – in hot pursuit. And Kyle Smith also obliterated the men’s course record after reeling in fan-favourite Fred Funk to take the win.
The 2025 edition of The Championship kicks off on Sunday 18 May, with live commentary from triathlon legend Belinda Granger. You’ll be able to watch live via the Challenge Family website, and as ever we’ll have all the updates for you right here on TRI247!
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