33 Ironmen from 33 Countries, Over 720 Participants Challenge Human Limits
UFC Kim Donghyun Forms Relay Team to Compete
Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do, will host the "2024 IRONMAN GURYE KOREA" competition from September 27 to 30 for four days at Jirisan Lake Park and certified courses within Gurye-gun.
The event is organized and hosted by the Korea Triathlon Federation, with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Jeollanam-do, and Gurye-gun. Approximately 1,200 participants, including over 720 world-class triathletes and related personnel from 33 countries, will take part in this competition.
The "2024 Ironman Gurye Korea" competition will open on the 29th. The photo shows last year's event. [Photo by Gurye-gun]
The athletes will consecutively complete three events?swimming (3.8 km), cycling (180 km), and marathon (42.2 km)?covering a total distance of 226 km within 17 hours. Top finishers among the completers will earn the right to participate in the 2025 IRONMAN World Championship.
On the 27th and 28th, athlete registration and distribution of athlete kits will take place at the Gurye Public Stadium. On September 28, the swimming venue will be open for official swim training, and the Bakkeum Place (Jirisan Lake Park) will be open for bicycle registration.
The main competition will start at 7 a.m. on the 29th, beginning with swimming, followed by cycling and marathon events in sequence.
Unlike last year, when the focus was solely on the main event without side events, this year, from 5 p.m. on the 27th, an opening ceremony and welcome event will be held, including a ceremony to award commemorative medals to volunteers as a gesture of appreciation.
The welcome event will feature spectacular performances by invited singers, including Eun Ga-eun, who appeared on Miss Trot.
Additionally, mixed martial arts fighter Kim Dong-hyun has been specially invited to participate in this competition. Kim plans to compete as part of a relay team and will run the cycling course of 180 km, which is his strongest event among the three disciplines.
Kim Soon-ho, the governor of Gurye, said, "We support the safe completion of all athletes and hope that this competition will widely promote Gurye's brand value as a sports tourism destination."
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