A Thrilling Stage For The Inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Goseong

Event: IRONMAN 70.3 Goseong
Date: Sunday, May 26
Location: Goseong, Korea

(Sunday, May 26 – Goseong, Korea) - Nearly 1,600 athletes, lined up along the shoreline of Danghangpo to embark on their IRONMAN 70.3 race goal in Goseong, Korea, earlier today.

Athletes set out on their IRONMAN 70.3 race journey which opened with a 1.9km swim set in the cool and calm water surrounded by dramatic mountain ranges, a 90km bike course lined with evergreen trees, rice fields and typical Korean countryside landscape. The 21.1km run course, encircled Dinosaur city where athletes took in stunning ocean and mountain views, as well as running through the famous Expo Park, featuring quirky dinosaur characters, across a looped course. 

The field of athletes were represented from 23 countries including Hong Kong, USA, China, Japan, Malaysia, Switzerland, Australia and Korea. Almost half of the field had chosen Goseong as not only a destination race but also their first opportunity to race the IRONMAN 70.3 distance. There was also a range of athletes who were participating as part of a relay triathlon team.

Mr Jae Keun Lee, Security General of the Korea Triathlon Federation was elated with the successful delivery of the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 race, staged in The Goseong County.

“The Goseong County was the ideal stage to host this new race in Korea. It offers athletes a unique course to race across and destination to explore. Entries sold out early which shows that the interest for athletes to race in Korea is high. We would like to thank The Goseong County for supporting this great event. Athletes have come away with a fantastic race experience and visit to The Goseong County.”

Earlier in the week the Mayor of The Goseong County set the scene and welcomed athletes and visited to the area for opening IRONMAN 70.3 event in Goseong, at the official opening ceremony in Danghangpo.

“I can guarantee this is a perfect place to host an IRONMAN 70.3 race. Wishing you happy memories and we hope to see you again next year. Thank you.”

Julie House, representing USA, was overjoyed by her first visit to Korea and overall race experience.

“Take all the things that can make a race good, the volunteers, spectators, athletes, venue and the weather and this race was all that times then. It was outstanding beyond my expectations in every way.”

40 slots were awarded to the top-tiered athletes, across the relevant age-groups in IRONMAN 70.3 Goseong to race theIRONMAN 70.3 World Championships, held in Nice, France, on September 7 2019.

Famously known as the dinosaur city, Goseong in Gyeongsangnam-do, a large island surrounded by many smaller islands, boasts a grand landscape and is ranked as one of the must-go travel destinations of Namhae. Many dinosaur fossils have been discovered in the area and the venue hosts a World Expo every four years. 2020 is marked on the calendar to stage the next Expo.

The field of athletes celebrated their goals as they crossed the finish line in the heart of Dinosaur City in Goseong in the first-ever IRONMAN 70.3 event in Goseong, Korea.