Categorized | Multi-sport, Sports

Nearly 2,000 competitors hail from 64 countries, 50 states

MEDIA RELEASE

The 2012 Ironman World Championship presented by myList is set to take place Saturday, Oct. 13 in Kailua-Kona.

Nearly 2,000 athletes from 50 states and 64 countries will swim 2.4 miles in the Pacific Ocean, cycle 112 miles through the iconic lava fields of Kailua-Kona and run 26.2 miles finishing on the scenic waterfront of Alii Drive.

This year’s field is packed with compelling stories and information including the fact that 53 percent of the competitors will be competing in Kona for the first time – 71 percent of those first timers are men and 29 percent are female.

Defending champion Craig Alexander aims to repeat while 2010 women’s champion and fellow Australian Mirinda Carfrae looks to reclaim the title. Reigning women’s champ Chrissie Wellington is taking a year off.

With a field of athletes ranging in age from 19 to 82, competitors have qualified for the Ironman World Championship one of five ways: by earning a slot at one of the qualifying events held worldwide, by being selected in the Ironman Lottery Program, by winning a slot through Ironman’s charitable eBay Auction, through the Ironman Legacy Program or via a new program introduced this year called Kona Inspired, where fans voted on eight inspirational athletes who submitted compelling stories telling why they should go to Kona.

Here is a more in depth look at the demographics of this year’s entire participant field:

Gender

* Male – 72 percent
* Female – 28 percent

Age

Age groups of 50+ and above have all seen 20 percent or more growth compared to last year’s field.

* 20 & under – less than 1 percent
* 21-30 – 14 percent
* 31-40 – 32 percent
* 41-50 – 31 percent
* 51-60 – 14 percent
* 61-70 – 6 percent
* 71 & older – 2 percent

Top Countries ( percent of international competitors)

* Australia – 21 percent
* Germany – 13 percent
* Canada – 10 percent
* Great Britain – 7 percent
* Switzerland – 5 percent

Top Cities

* London, GBR – 19 participants
* Sydney, AUS – 16 participants
* Auckland, NZL – 13 participants
* Toronto, CAN – 12 participants
* Perth, AUS – 10 participants
* Tokyo, JAP – 10 participants

Top States ( percent of US competitors)

* California – 17 percent
* New York – 7 percent
* Colorado – 6 percent
* Hawaii – 6 percent
* Florida – 5 percent
* Texas – 5 percent

Top Cities

* New York, NY – 28 participants
* Boulder, CO – 20 participants
* Kailua-Kona, HI – 19 participants
* Honolulu, HI – 14 participants
* Austin, TX – 11 participants
 
Professional Field

As always, this year’s professional race features tough competition, headlined by Alexander and Carfrae. Other top professionals include:

Women:

* Leanda Cave – UK, 3rd place at the 2011 Ironman World Championship, winner of the 2012 Ironman World Championship 70.3

* Rachel Joyce – UK, 4th place at the 2011 Ironman World Championship and runner-up at 2012 Ironman Melbourne

* Caroline Steffen – Switzerland, 5th place at the 2011 Ironman World Championship, runner-up at the 2010 Ironman World Championship

* Kelly Williamson – US, winner of Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas (US Championship), 2nd place finish at 2011 Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas

Men:

* Pete Jacobs – Australia, runner-up at the 2011 Ironman World Championship, 1st place at 2012 Ironman Lake Placid

* Sebastian Kienle – Germany, winner of the 2012 Ironman World Championship 70.3

* Andreas Raelert – Germany, three podium finishes in the last three Ironman World Championship races (3rd in 2011, 2nd in 2010 & 3rd in 2009)

* Jordan Rapp – US, winner of the 2012 Ironman US Championship in New York

— Find out more:
www.ironman.com

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