IRONMAN UK 2019 becomes Military Division Kona qualifier

IRONMAN UK BECOMES MILITARY DIVISION QUALIFIER

IRONMAN UK will be the only European race to offer Military Division qualification for the 2019 IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona

#GBKona 2019 / Zwift / IRONMAN World Championship / Hawaii 2019

IRONMAN, a Wanda Sports Holdings company, today announced that IRONMAN UK Bolton has been selected to be an IRONMAN Military Division Qualifier for the 2019 IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i. The Bolton-based event will become the only European race to offer qualification for the IRONMAN Military Division offering 10 qualification slots exclusively to athletes who are in active military duty. The IRONMAN Military Division is open to amateur active duty Military personnel, regardless of country, gender or branch of service. The Military Division qualification slots are independent of the age group qualification slots available at IRONMAN UK.

IRONMAN’s military ties date back to the inaugural event, co-created by U.S. Navy Commander John Collins and his wife Judy and the first race was won by US Navy Communications Specialist Gordon Haller. The runner-up spot at the inaugural event went to US Navy Seal John Dunbar, while third that day went to US Marine Dave Orlowski.

IRONMAN UK is the longest-running long distance triathlon in the UK and has regularly seen athletes from various branches of the British Armed Forces compete. These athletes, along with their equivalents from across Europe, will now have the opportunity to earn a place at the IRONMAN World Championship to compete against other Military qualifiers from around the world.

A Royal Navy Tri athlete competing at IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire.
Photo: Huw Fairclough for IRONMAN

“We are excited at the addition of IRONMAN UK as an IRONMAN Military Division qualifier race in 2019. The Military connection is at the very core of IRONMAN having played a historic role in the development of the sport we celebrate so widely today,” said Thomas Veje Olsen, Vice President, Head of Operations for IRONMAN Europe, Middle East and Africa.

“With the United Kingdom’s proud and distinguished military history, IRONMAN UK was seen as the ideal race to extend the Military Division’s presence into Europe thereby giving European Military athletes the opportunity to represent their country’s military and branch of service at the world’s most prestigious triathlon showpiece, the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i,” added Olsen

Athletes who are eligible to compete in the Military Division will have the option of choosing to compete in either the Military Division or opt to remain in their standard age group. Military Division athletes will start in a designated wave ahead of the age group rolling start. Slot allocation and roll down for Military athletes will be conducted in conjunction with the age group athlete slot allocation at IRONMAN UK.

For additional details on the Military Division and slot allocation protocol, please visit www.ironman.com/triathlon/organizations/military-championships.aspx.

For more information on IRONMAN UK, visit www.ironman.com/uk.

#GBKona 2019 / Zwift / IRONMAN World Championship / Hawaii 2019

Latest News
Ben Kanute IRONMAN Arizona 2022 [Photo credit Patrick McDermott Getty Images for IRONMAN]
Stars aligning for Ben Kanute as he aims for third Oceanside title
Kat Matthews at the Sub7Sub8 Project in 2022.
‘I struggle to see the finish line without crying’ – Kat Matthews on her return
Jan Frodeno Zwift Tri Battle Royale 2021
No GOAT: Jan Frodeno is ruled OUT of Oceanside 70.3 return
IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside 2022: Men's podium - Jackson Laundry, Lionel Sanders, Rudy Von Berg
Laundry prepared to defend title against top field at IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside
Thor Bendix Madsen - IRONMAN 70.3 Lanzarote 2023 - run
Thor Bendix Madsen puts season on hold