The corona pandemic continues to spread in sport.
The Ironman World Championship with the famous Ironman Hawaii and Ironman 70.3 World Championship will definitely not take place due to the effects of the corona crisis.
The legendary triathlon competition had initially been postponed to February 2021, but was now canceled for the first time in history “with a heavy heart”. The organizers announced this.
The World Cup was originally scheduled for October 10, before being postponed to February 2021 in May. But it is not the first time since 1982 that there are two world champions in one year.
The three-time world champion Jan Frodeno reacted calmly. It was “of course a shame, but was to be expected especially in the USA with the current developments,” said the 38-year-old: “A world championship is currently not feasible with athletes from all continents, we just have to continue to think and act more regionally . “
The 70.3 World Championship over half the distance, which was postponed from November 2020 to spring 2021, will not take place again until autumn 2021.
Next Ironman World Championship in September 2021
The two planned dates of the World Championships for 2021 will remain in place. The competitions will take place on September 17 and 18, 2021 in St. George (Utah, USA) and on October 9 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
“We were hopeful that we could welcome our athletes, their families and fans to these events, but the ongoing influence of the pandemic makes that impossible,” the organizers wrote.
It is tough to make this decision in July, “but that brings the necessary clarity for athletes, hosts and partners”.
Germany had dominated the Ironman in recent years. Sebastian Kienle won in 2014, Jan Frodeno prevailed in 2015, 2016 and 2019, in between Patrick Lange triumphed twice. In the women’s category, Anne Haug won the last edition.
Haug: “Very sad”
The two-time champion Lange also welcomed the cancellation. “It was predictable and a very right decision given the current circumstances,” the 33-year-old wrote on Instagram. He is happy that the decision was made “as difficult as it may be for us as athletes”.
Defending champion Haug (37) was much more disappointed. “I’m of course very sad about it,” said the first German Hawaii winner. Nevertheless, she showed understanding: “In view of the current situation, the decision is more than understandable.”
No competitions could take place this year due to the corona virus. A month ago the EM in Frankfurt / Main was finally canceled.
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