The World’s Top Male Triathletes Head to Kailua-Kona, Hawai`I For The 2024 Vinfast IRONMAN World Championship

October 23, 2024

- More than 2,400 registered male athletes from 85 countries, regions and territories will enjoy the beautiful surrounding of Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i for the men’s edition of the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship on October 26 - The world’s top male professional and age-group triathletes will return to Kona for the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon with the women having raced in Nice, France on September 22

KAILUA-KONA, Hawai`i /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – More than 2,400 registered male triathletes from around the world will gather in Kailua-Kona Hawai`i for the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN^® World Championship^® triathlon. Returning to the Island of Hawai`i after making history in Nice, France last year as the first cohort to race an IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Europe, professional and age-group male athletes will race endurance sport’s pinnacle event on the much-revered Kona course.

“After a great event in Nice, France with our female athletes a month ago, we are thrilled to welcome our male athletes to 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in beautiful Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i. This breathtaking island is prepared to once again host this iconic global sporting event that will shine a spotlight on the very best male professional and age group triathletes. We welcome them to our Ohana and look forward to providing athletes and their supporters with an unforgettable experience,” said Diana Bertsch, Senior Vice President of World Championship Events at The IRONMAN Group.

In total, 85 countries, regions and territories will be represented at the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Kona. Regional representation sees Europe lead the way with 47 percent* of athletes registered to race and North America with the second most, accounting for 29 percent of athletes. Oceania follows with 10 percent, with Latin America making up seven percent while Asia adds six percent. Africa and the Middle East will make up the final two percent to complete the athlete field for the 2024 edition of the event.

The United States of America is the most represented nation with 638 registered athletes, followed by Germany (266), Australia (183), France (158), and the United Kingdom (138). Other athletes from countries as far as Guatemala, Kuwait, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe are traveling from around the globe to race the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon.

Every athlete that lines up at the entrance to Kailua Bay on Saturday, October 26 for the men’s edition of the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon has their own unique and personal journey to the start line, but all showcase a dedication and perseverance bringing them to center stage of the triathlon world. Some of the notable age-group athletes competing at the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon include:

• Warren Hill (NZL) will represent as the oldest competitor at 84-years young, while Wojciech Poparda (POL) will be the youngest male competitor at the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon at 20 years old.
• Jeff and Johnny Agar (Rockford, MI, USA) – A father and son duo, ‘Team Agar’ are determined to finish what they started in Kona in 2016 when they missed the bike cut-off of. Their day had ended in disappointment, but a journey was just beginning that showcased immense heart, dedication, and determination. Despite having Cerebral Palsy, Johnny and his dad Jeff have pushed their limits towards a goal set nearly a decade ago to complete a full distance IRONMAN triathlon and have another chance in Kona. Successfully completing IRONMAN 70.3 Boulder, IRONMAN 70.3 Traverse City, and IRONMAN 70.3 Muncie, among others, the Agars navigated 7 years of adversity in their attempts to complete an IRONMAN triathlon. Their dedication and hard work however prevailed at the 2022 IRONMAN Maryland triathlon as this special father and son team had the day they hoped for with Johnny using his walker for the final stretch of the run course to cross the finish line under his own power and within the 17 hour cutoff. With a chance at redemption in Kona, and a full year of preparation under their belt, the start line of the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Hawai`i awaits this dynamic duo. As inspirational as their journey has been, for Team Agar, it’s also a testament to both a father’s love and a son’s grit and unwavering belief in himself.
• Micheal Andreasen (San Diego, CA, USA) – Michael has Hypochondroplasia, a form of short limbed Dwarfism/skeletal dysplasia and stands at 4 foot 7 inches tall. Having a disability brings its limitations, but Michael has never let his disability define him or what he is able to accomplish. Michael enjoys pushing the boundaries of what his body can endure and letting the world know that Anything Is Possible. Michael will do just that when he takes on the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship with the support of the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF).
• Paul Bradford (Wirral, United Kingdom) – Paul was athletic growing up and was inspired by his father, frequently training together in his adolescent years. His father passed away in 2012 and in his honor, Paul decided to enter IRONMAN Austria, with six months to train. He became an IRONMAN triathlete, carving out an identity that never left him. From then, Paul became obsessed with trying to achieve the goal of qualifying for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona. In 2022, four weeks out from competing in his first World Championship race, Paul crashed his bike on the way home from a training ride with his training partner. He sustained a traumatic brain injury and multiple fractures to the skull, jaw and ribs. His training partner was a medic and saved his life at the scene by keeping him alive until the air rescue ambulance arrived. He was given a 10% chance of survival at the scene. Paul was in a coma for seven days, spent 10 days in intensive care, and was in hospital for three months. He had to learn to walk and talk again yet remained committed to taking his place at the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Kona and racing within two years of qualifying.
• Douglas Griffiths (Vincentia, Australia) – Completing the IRONMAN World Championship has been a lifelong goal for Douglas, with the iconic endurance event inspiring him to take on his first triathlon as a 16-year-old in 1986. But now, as he is finally about to step onto the hallowed IRONMAN World Championship start line in Kona 38 years later, Douglas’ ‘why’ is very different. His why today is to prove that he can overcome anything and that he will not let cancer win and define his life. Douglas has a career spanning 35 years of activity duty as a Naval Officer in the Royal Australian Navy, and a Clearance Diver by specialisation. In February 2023 his world was flipped on its head after he returned from duty to find out he had cancer. Lying exhausted in a hospital bed, Douglas was diagnosed with Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma, a form of blood cancer that impacted his bone marrow and prevented him from producing red blood cells. Competing in Kona a year on from his diagnosis is now Douglas’ why; to prove that Anything is Possible. He wants to live life and wants to finish a dream he had when he started this sport.
• Beau Jones (Sydney, Australia) – Before finding triathlon Beau was 135 kilograms and had been diagnosed with PTSD after the events surrounding his son’s birth. Beau spent weeks dancing with the black dog of depression but thanks to those around him, the idea of fully embracing the dark was never an option. He has been on a mission since that diagnosis to ensure no man, no human, must suffer in silence. Wanting to affect positive change in his life and the lives of those around him, Beau took up triathlon and completed his first IRONMAN at the 2022 IRONMAN Australia in Port Macquarie, inspiring many with his drive and determination to reach the finish line. A vocal advocate for mental health, Beau is dedicated to sharing a positive mental health message with the community, using triathlon as a vehicle for this positive change.
• Billy Monger (Charlwood, United Kingdom) – A former racing car driver and double amputee, Billy will race at the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Kailua-Kona while raising vital funds for Comic Relief, a major UK charity. In 2017, just before his 18th birthday, Billy suffered life-changing injuries in a near-fatal race crash that led to the amputation of his legs. Driven by sheer determination and the unwavering support of loved ones, Billy was back behind the wheel within a year and has been unstoppable since in his pursuit of pushing boundaries in the world of sport. Since then, Billy has already raised £3 million for Comic Relief when he walked, cycled and kayaked across England in four days. As Comic Relief prepares to celebrate its 40th year, Billy is planning to conquer the pinnacle race of the triathlon calendar. And, not only that, but Billy is also hoping to set the fastest finish time for a double amputee on prosthetic legs at the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon, by completing the event in under 16 hours, 26 minutes and 59 seconds.
• Jonathan Pascual (Vallejo, CA, USA) – Cancer and tumors have not stopped Jonathan from completing over 15 IRONMAN triathlons throughout his lifetime achieving Legacy Athlete status and an entry to the IRONMAN World Championship. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2007 but was able to have it resected. In 2022, he was diagnosed with stage IV of a rare form of cancer called mediastinal paraganglioma that has spread throughout his lungs and bones, making it incurable. Jonathan was told the disease has a five-year survival rate, so he has been working to make the most of that time by reinforcing relationships with his friends and family, traveling, continuing to work as a nurse and competing in endurance events, including triathlons and marathons. Despite a terminal diagnosis with chronic pain and unnerving symptoms such as difficulty breathing, especially when he is in a prone position, such as when he’s swimming, Jonathan runs, swims and cycles for hours at a time several days a week while training for the VinFast IRONMAN World Championships while also separately, a 100-mile ultramarathon. Through IRONMAN, Jonathan is focusing to spread the message of early detection of cancer, shatter the myth that cancer is an outright death sentence, & through resilience I can overcome impossible odds. With the time he has left, he is committed to remaining a force for good.
• Brent and Kyle Pease (Atlanta, GA, USA) – Brent and Kyle Pease share a special bond. The two brothers have competed in dozens of marathons, triathlons and IRONMAN triathlon competitions across the United States since 2010, with Brent pushing and pulling his younger brother Kyle who has spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy. The Pease brothers established the Kyle Pease Foundation in 2011 upon completion of their first triathlon. The Foundation’s purpose is to enable athletes with disabilities to share the joy of racing by engaging in the opportunities that Kyle has the good fortune to experience. Since KPF’s inception, the Pease brothers have completed dozens of races together, and the organization has supported hundreds of athletes. In 2018, the Pease Brothers made history when they crossed the finish line at the IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Kona, becoming the first ever push-assisted team of brothers to finish. The only other push-assisted team to finish was legendary father and son duo, Rick and Dick Hoyt. The Pease Brothers will look to continue their inspirational journey when they return to Kona this weekend.

To hear some of these inspiring athletes share their stories of overcoming adversity and empowering others to prove that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^®, please join the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship Ambassador Athlete Panel that will be taking place at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 24 at the IRONMAN Village Stage, Hale Hālāwai Park along Ali`I Drive. The event is open to media and the general public.

Additional interesting facts and stats on the field competing in the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship men’s race in Kaliua-Kona, Hawai`i:

• 46 is the average age of all registrants
• Warren Hill (NZL) is the oldest athlete male participant at 84, while Wojciech Poparda (POL) is the youngest at 20
• 12 athletes will be celebrating their birthdays on race day
• 85 countries, regions and territories are represented, with top five being the United States, Germany, Australia, France, and the United Kingdom
• 46 U.S. states are accounted for, with top five states in athlete count being, California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Colorado
• Of the 22 registered athletes from Hawai`i, 16 of those are from the Island of Hawai`i
• This year’s field comprises seven returning age group champions from the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship race: France’s Pierre Stiereman (M30-34), Germany’s Christian Haupt (M40-44), Great Britain’s Donald Brooks (M45-49), Kazakhstan’s Alexandre Vinokurov (M50-54), France’s Laurent Jalabert (M55-59), the United States’ Tim Bradley (M60-64), and Spain’s Jose Mugica Izagirre (M65-69)
• 60 qualifying races from around the globe in 2023 and 2024 enabled athletes to reach the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship
• Approximately 3,500 volunteers will be helping across race week and on race day to help make the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship men’s race in Kailua-Kona successful in 2024.

Beginning in the crystal-clear waters of Kailua Bay, athletes taking part in the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon will tackle the 2.4-mile (3.8km) ROKA swim course before heading out on the 112-mile (180.2km) FulGaz™ bike course, renowned for its historic long sustained climbs, strong crosswinds, and exposed terrain beauty with lava fields on one side and the ocean coastline on the other. The final leg of the race sees athletes take on the 26.2-mile (42.2km) HOKA run course, an out-and-back that takes athletes past the spirited crowds on Ali`i Drive, up Palani Road to the Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway which leads them to the long-awaited HOST Park at the National Energy Laboratory Hawai`i Authority (NELHA). Athletes will complete their journey to the roar of thousands of spectators as they cross the historic Ali`i Drive finish line. Further details of the course can be found here.

Fans around the world can enjoy live race day coverage of the men’s 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon for free across multiple platforms including proseries.ironman.com, DAZN, and YouTube, as well as Outside TV in the U.S. and Canada, L’Équipe in France, and ZDF in Germany. Race preview content will be available throughout the week across IRONMAN’s social media channels.

“A Fighting Chance”

Follow the @ironmantri social channels for a behind the scenes view of what it takes to have a chance at world-title glory. The ‘A Fighting Chance’ IRONMAN series will drop two new pre-race episodes during race week, giving audiences a glimpse of what it takes to prepare for race day, as well as the staging behind such an iconic event. Find live race-day coverage of the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Kona globally via proseries.ironman.com.

To submit an interest in receiving media credentials, fill in the World Championship Credentials Request form.

For more information about the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship men’s race in Kona, Hawai`i please visit www.ironman.com/im-world-championship-2024. To learn more about the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 brands and series of events, please visit www.ironman.com. Media inquiries may be directed to press@ironman.com.

*Percentages rounded, approximate

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About the IRONMAN World Championship

Since its inception in 1978 on the Island of O`ahu, the IRONMAN World Championship<sup>®</sup> triathlon has etched its name in history through stellar performances, inspirational participants and emotional memories. In 1981, the race moved from the tranquil shores of Waikīkī to the barren lava fields of Kona on the Island of Hawai`i. The most iconic one-day sporting event in the world is the culmination of 40 global IRONMAN events with over 94,000 athletes around the world striving for one of the coveted qualifying slots. The 2021 edition of the event took place in St. George, Utah in May 2022, becoming the first location to host the event outside of Hawai`i since its origins in 1978. After a two-year hiatus from Hawai`i due to COVID, the race returned to Kailua-Kona in 2022 and for the first time took place as a two-day event. The 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship race continued with the two-day format but with two different host locations and dates (Nice, France in September and Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i in October), to allow for a dedicated world championship race for women and dedicated world championship race for men. The cumulative event hosted over 4,000 athletes embarking on a 140.6-mile journey that presents the ultimate test of body, mind, and spirit to earn the title of IRONMAN World Champion. In 2024, the women will rotate to Nice, France while the men return to Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i for their respective world championship host locations. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/im-world-championship.

About The IRONMAN Group

The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Running Series, IRONKIDS^®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf^®, UTMB^® World Series trail-running events including the Canyons Endurance Runs™ by UTMB^®, Tarawera Ultra-Trail™ by UTMB^® and Ultra-Trail Australia™ by UTMB^®, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, road cycling events, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world, providing participants the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Catering to the full athlete experience, the company portfolio also includes FulGaz^® virtual cycling, the most realistic indoor riding experience connected fitness application aimed at preparing athletes for real-world events. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN^® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business, and Orkila Capital, a growth equity firm focused on building great brands. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.

About Advance 

Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications, education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the value of our companies over the long-term by fostering growth and innovation. Advance’s portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin, and Pop. Together these operating companies employ more than 14,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Warner Bros. Discovery and Reddit. For more information visit www.advance.com.