INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT ON NELSON MANDELA BAY FOR STANDARD BANK IRONMAN® AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Africa welcomes the world for the inaugural Standard Bank IRONMAN® African Championship taking place on Sunday 29 March 2015 in Nelson Mandela Bay. The annual IRONMAN event has taken place in Nelson Mandela Bay for the past ten years and is now entrenched in the Nelson Mandela Bay culture and South African endurance sports arena.

“The year 2015 marks a momentous occasion in the history of this proud event as what was known as IRONMAN South Africa now takes on a different form and an elevated status. The growth of IRONMAN South Africa both locally and internationally, coupled with the newly-formed partnership with Standard Bank, prompted the World Triathlon Corporation to afford the race continental championship status. Now known as the Standard Bank IRONMAN African Championship, the race which has donned Nelson Mandela Bay the IRONMAN City of Africa, further shines an international spotlight on the city,” said Keith Bowler, Managing Director, IRONMAN South Africa.

The Standard Bank IRONMAN African Championship now ranks amongst the top five IRONMAN races globally and places Nelson Mandela Bay alongside cities such as Melbourne and Frankfurt. This change brings an increased professional prize purse of $150 000 USD (R1.7 million) with the male and female winners taking home $30 000 USD (R344 700) each. In addition, the race now offers double professional ranking points which means that the winners would automatically qualify for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. For the amateur athletes, there are now 75 IRONMAN World Championship qualifying slots on offer. This further increases the chances for South African athletes to compete against the best in the world in their age categories.

Delving deeper into the tourism impact of the Standard Bank IRONMAN African Championship on Nelson Mandela Bay, and one truly begins to understand the value of such an event. The 2015 Standard Bank IRONMAN African Championship records the deepest professional field ever assembled in Africa with 81 professional athletes and the highest ever number of international entries totalling 609 international athletes from 57 nations. International athletes make up 30% of the total field of 2043, an increase of nearly 10% on 2014. Over the event period more than 7000 visitors are expected to stay in the region totalling an estimated 40 267 bed nights. This translates into a conservatively estimated direct spend in the region of R52 million.

“It is with great excitement that we are able to stage an event of this stature in South Africa and Nelson Mandela Bay in particular. This city has embraced IRONMAN to such an extent that stories of the enthusiasm and atmosphere from spectators and residents have travelled to all parts of the world through our international athletes. It is therefore no surprise that our international numbers continue to grow as does Nelson Mandela Bay’s stature as an international sporting destination of choice,” added Bowler.

For enthusiasts of the sport and the Nelson Mandela Bay spectators, the professional race already looks a mouth-watering prospect featuring some of the world’s best and most renowned IRONMAN athletes. Headlining this year’s race is 2013 IRONMAN World Champion, Frederik Van Lierde from Belgium. Van Lierde recently visited Nelson Mandela Bay for two weeks in January to train and familiarise himself with the course. The Belgian’s countryman, Bart Aernouts who finished 9th at the IRONMAN World Championship, also finds himself racing in Nelson Mandela Bay for the first time while Frenchman, Cyril Viennot returns after placing 5th at the IRONMAN World Championship in 2014. Among the prominent newcomers to South Africa is Spain’s Eneko Llanos who is a former IRONMAN European and Asia-Pacific champion.

South Africa’s charge will be led by James Cunnama, Kyle Buckingham and Matt Trautman. Over the past 18 months the trio have achieved impressive results which will place them in the running for the title on home soil. Kyle Buckingham’s second place finish in 2014 was cause for massive celebration in Nelson Mandela Bay so the local crowds can look forward to an exciting race with vested interest.

The ladies’ professional field is one of the strongest assembled with Great Britain’s Jodie Swallow and Lucy Gossage returning while American, Linsey Corbin along with Denmark’s Camilla Pedersen will be strong contenders. Swallow continues to show what a phenomenal athlete she is having come off a fifth consecutive win at the Standard Bank IRONMAN 70.3 South Africa in East London and a fourth place at the IRONMAN World Championship in October 2014. She is yet to taste victory in Nelson Mandela Bay having finished 3rd and 2nd in 2014 and 2013 respectively. Corbin is a multiple IRONMAN winner while Pedersen is a former IRONMAN European Champion and knows how to win on the big stage. Lucy Gossage managed an impressive second place finish in 2014 so both Swallow and Gossage’s experience of the course and conditions could give them an edge over the competition.

The triathlon world will be focused on Nelson Mandela Bay for the Standard Bank IRONMAN African Championship as 81 professional athletes and nearly 2000 amateur hopefuls take on the gruelling 3.8km swim, 180.2km bike 42.2km run. These athletes will be out to prove that Anything is Possible®.