2023 Ironman 70.3 World Championship by the Numbers: Lahti, Finland Set to Host Top Triathletes from Around the Globe

– More than 6,000 registered athletes from 115 countries, regions and territories will converge in Lahti, Finland for the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon

– The United States of America is the most represented nation followed by France, Germany, United Kingdom, and Australia, with athletes also flying in from the likes of Nepal, Burundi, and Ghana

– Lahti, Finland is the first Nordic country to host the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon, and third in Europe followed by Zell am See-Kaprun, Austria (2015) and Nice, France (2019)

LAHTI, Finland (August 22, 2023) – On August 26 and 27, Lahti, Finland will take center stage of the triathlon world when it welcomes over 6,000 registered athletes to participate in two days of racing at the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN® 70.3® World Championship triathlon. Live race day coverage will be available on Outside Watch with race preview content available on all of IRONMAN’s social media channels.

In 2017, the global rotation of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon began bringing this pinnacle event to world-class locations around the world. Due to the pandemic that rotation was paused, but begins again in 2023 as the VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon will return to Europe for the first time since 2019, marking the first time that Lahti, Finland and a Nordic country has hosted the event and the third time for Europe (previously, Zell am See, Austria in 2015 and Nice, France in 2019).

Regional representation at the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon sees Europe lead the way with 52 percent* of athletes registered to race and North America with the second most, accounting for 22 percent of athletes. Latin America follows with 10 percent, while Oceania athletes made the long haul bringing in 5 percent. Asia added just over 4 percent to the field, and Africa and Middle East both brought nearly 4 percent to consist of the remaining athlete field for the 2023 edition of the event.

The United States of America is the most represented nation with 1,152 registered athletes, followed by France (517), Germany (515), United Kingdom (453), and Australia (250). Finland has a healthy hometown contingent with over 200 athletes. Other athletes from countries as far as Rwanda, Uzbekistan and Zambia are traveling from around the globe to race the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon. Countries being represented for the first time include Armenia, Bulgaria, Burundi, Ghana, Nepal, Moldova, Rwanda, and Zambia.

This year’s field boasts 11 age-group champions from the 2022 Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship presented by Utah Sports Commission that took place in St. George on Oct. 28 and 29, 2022. Returning to the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship to try to keep their crown is, Germany’s Kilian Bauer (M25-29) and Lina Völker (F25-29), France’s Jean-Marie Buchot (PC/ID) and Michel Rolland (M80-84), American’s Volker Fischer (M70-74), Beni Gras-Thompson (F50-54) and Missy Lestrange (F70-74), the United Kingdom’s Paul Lunn (M50-54), Chris Standidge (M40-44) and Canada’s Deborah Eckhouse (F35-39) and Solvenia’s Natasa Nakrst (F60-64).