Ironman

Athletes compete in the running stage of the BIM Group 5150 Triathlon Phu Quoc in 2022. The IRONMAN 70.3 Phu Quoc triathlon will make its debut in November. Photo courtesy of BIM Group 5150 Triathlon Phu Quoc

HCM CITY – The IRONMAN Group has announced that Việt Nam's island of Phú Quốc will play host to the newest IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon in Asia.

The inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Phu Quoc triathlon is scheduled to make its debut on November 19, taking athletes on a fantastic tour of Việt Nam’s largest island with turquoise waters and diverse tropical landscapes in Kiên Giang Province.

“We could not be more excited to expand upon the success of last year’s Phu Quoc 5150 race to showcase the remarkable beauty of Phú Quốc with an IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon,” said Jeff Edwards, managing director of Asia for the IRONMAN Group on May 25.

“Phú Quốc provides a true holiday destination race venue, easily accessible from numerous airports in Southeast Asia.”

The IRONMAN 70.3 Phu Quoc triathlon will begin with a 1.9km swim, starting and finishing from a beautiful white sand beach along the Gulf of Thailand. The 90km bike ride traverses the southern half of the island, before the event culminates with a flat and fast 21.1km run with a seaside finish.

“We are glad to have the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 event in Phú Quốc, which is a statement of our commitment to promoting sports and tourism in the province," said Lê Công Nghiệp, deputy director of Kiên Giang Province's Department of Culture and Sports.

"This event will showcase the natural beauty and cultural richness of the region while also providing a platform for athletes from around the world to challenge themselves and achieve their goals.

"We look forward to welcoming participants, supporters, and spectators to this exciting event and are confident that it will help to elevate Phú Quốc's profile as a world-class sports and tourism destination.”

The Phú Quốc's race, sponsored by BIM Group, is organised by Sunrise Events Vietnam, the exclusive licensee of the World Triathlon Corporation for IRONMAN 70.3, 5150 Triathlon and IRONKIDS events in Việt Nam.

A poster of IRONMAN 70.3 Phu Quoc triathlon.

It will be held at Phú Quốc Marina Integrated Resort Complex, a large-scale unique resort and entertainment hub built with international standards in the island’s centre.

"Following the success of 5150 Triathlon Phu Quoc, we decided to bring the first IRONMAN 70.3 event to Phú Quốc," said Đoàn Quốc Huy, Vice President and CEO of BIM Group. "This marks BIM Group's unremitting efforts towards the vision of Pearl Island as an outstanding destination in the region, befitting its potential."

“The partnership with IRONMAN also demonstrates BIM Group’s vision of sustainability, which involves developing high-quality goods and services that benefit the environment, inspiring a healthy physical and mental lifestyle, and improving the community’s lives."

Trịnh Bằng, SEV co-founder, said: "We are thrilled to add a second IRONMAN 70.3 race in Phú Quốc to complement our first event in Đà Nẵng, now one of the most popular IRONMAN 70.3 races in Southeast Asia."

"Having raced in IRONMANs around the world, I believe the island of Phú Quốc represents an ideal destination with its beautiful beaches and world-class resorts and is certain to become a favourite race amongst athletes and their families in the years to come.

Cycling is the second stage in the IRONMAN triathlon. The Phú Quốc event will be the second IRONMAN event in Việt Nam. Photo courtesy of BIM Group 5150 Triathlon Phu Quoc

“IRONMAN’s impact in inspiring Vietnamese athletes to embrace triathlon and multi-sports cannot be understated. The mantra of “Anything is Possible” is deeply rooted in the spirit of the Vietnamese people, and this new event will provide another opportunity for local athletes to enjoy the unforgettable experience of crossing the IRONMAN finish line while also offering our international athletes a taste of Vietnamese hospitality and culture."

The 2023 IRONMAN 70.3 Phu Quoc triathlon will offer qualifying slots to the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon taking place in New Zealand.

Phú Quốc is the ideal Southeast Asian destination to race and relax afterwards, with the holiday island known for its white-sand beaches, local delicacies and resorts.

For those looking to spend time in nature before or after race day, more than half of the island is a part of Phú Quốc National Park, featuring mountains, tropical jungles, hiking trails and wildlife, with the park declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2010.

The general registration for the event is officially open on May 26. Athletes and supporters can find more information and register by visiting www.ironman.com/im703-phu-quoc. VNS