By Jena Carr
New and returning athletes will race along Geelong’s waterfront this weekend for Ironman 70.3.
More than 1600 athletes will participate in a 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride and 21.1km run in and around Geelong before finishing at Steampacket Gardens on Sunday, March 24.
Geelong regional director Carl Smith said the event was open to racers of all skills and abilities, with the Iron Kids taking place on Saturday before the adults race on Sunday.
“We’re extremely excited about returning to Geelong, which has been a staple on the Ironman circuit for well over 10 years now,” he said.
“It’s a great platform for athletes of all shapes, sizes, skills and abilities to take on the 70.3 journey as this race has a lot of history and is a great destination for anyone coming.
“It’s amazing to have such a great community vibe down on the waterfront and we’re extremely excited for that, as well as 150 or so kids that are going to be taking on the Iron Kids on Saturday.”
Greater Geelong City councillor Eddy Kontelj said he was looking forward to competing in the event for the third time and loved the spirit of competition.
“It gives community a sense of pride in what we’re doing in our town and an opportunity to get involved in the events and have a great time,” he said.
“One of the reasons I do it is to try and promote events like this in Geelong and demonstrate that normal people like myself can participate in these types of events.
“People travel to these types of events and they either stay for a short period of time or some people plan holidays around them…so from an economic stimulus perspective, they’re fantastic.”
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said Victoria was home to many significant events, with Geelong providing the “perfect venue” for Ironman 70.3.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for Australia’s best triathletes to visit Victoria and explore all we have to offer, including our stunning beaches and picturesque coastline,” he said.
Visit ironman.com/im703-geelong for more information about this weekend’s Ironman 70.3 Geelong races.
