Ironman announces new 70.3 race in Swansea

Ironman has today announced that it will be bringing a brand-new middle-distance event to the UK.

Joining the firm’s existing line-up of UK events, Ironman 70.3 Swansea will first take place on 7 August 2022, with entries due to open on 16 November.

Speaking about the news, Ironman’s Regional Director of the UK and Ireland Declan Byrne said: “We are really excited about the addition of an Ironman 70.3 race in Swansea as our athletes have been eagerly anticipating the establishment of such an event in Wales for some time.

“Swansea was an obvious choice with its outstanding natural beauty and a thriving tourist destination, catering to both internationals and locals alike.

“Our hope is that Ironman 70.3 Swansea has the same positive impact on the region as Ironman Wales has had on Pembrokeshire.”

Ironman says athletes and spectators can expect a route that will take in the historic dockside, the beautiful Gower Peninsula and the rolling green hills and rich agriculture surrounding the city.

Clifftop roads and a spectacular finish

The race will begin with a 1.9km swim in the Prince of Wales Dock, followed by a one-loop 90km bike through the beautiful Mumbles, along clifftop roads and around rural Swansea before heading back into the city. The two-loop run course will take athletes past the gold-coloured Swansea Arena, toward the Mumbles and back to the Marina, where the finish line will be lying in wait.

Ironman 70.3 Swansea will also act as part of a series of events celebrating para sport in the UK. A World Triathlon Para Series event will be taking place the day before (6 August 2022), using elements of the course that athletes will be using for the half Ironman.

This will be supported with a week-long para sports festival taking place in the city from 1 August, with a handful of other para sport events taking place throughout the city during that time.

The event joins a roster of existing Ironman events including Ironman UK (in Bolton), Ironman 70.3 Bolton, Ironman 70.3 Weymouth and Ironman Wales, which is hosted in Tenby and was cancelled for a second year in a row this summer.

Competitive age-groupers will also be interested to hear that there will also be qualifying slots on offer for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship that’s due to take place in Lahti, Finland on 26 August 2023.

To find out more about the event, take a look at the official Ironman 70.3 Swansea page.

Top image credit: Swansea Council