NICE, France (Sep. 20, 2024) – Inspiring female athletes past and present took centre stage at last night’s VIP Function and throughout today. Hall of Fame Inductees Fernanda Keller and Kathleen McCartney were celebrated for their years of achievement on and off the course, while this morning at the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship Press Conference, 10 of the top female professional athletes in the world racing in Nice shared their pre-race thoughts. And this afternoon, four incredible age group athletes spoke about their personal story and journey to the World Championship start line during the IRONMAN Ambassador Athlete Panel.
The women’s 2024 VinFast IRONMAN® World Championship triathlon in Nice, France takes place on Sunday, Sept 22. For the first time women will race the pinnacle event of triathlon in the French Riviera, and for the second time Nice will play dual host to the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship.
The Pros Take Centre Stage: This morning’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship Press Conference began with opening remarks from CEO of The IRONMAN Group, Scott DeRue and Nice Delegate for Sporting Events, José Cobos, before ten of the top female professional triathletes in the world racing in Nice shared their insights on the competition, course, and preparation ahead of race day. The most popular themes centred on the athletes’ love for Nice and its relaxed vibes and beautiful scenery, as well as their excitement around tackling the challenging but breathtaking bike course
Athlete Ambassador Panel: Four inspirational age group athletes joined the IRONMAN Ambassador Athlete Panel in the VinFast IRONMAN Village to share their personal journey’s to the start line in Nice. The diverse and international panel was made up of Lucy Bartholomew (AUS), who for the second time is set to complete the UTMB World Series Finals and IRONMAN World Championship in the same year; Emilie Bonnet (FRA), who overcame the odds to make it to the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship after suffering a serious knee injury in a skiing accident; Pauline Green (GBR), for whom triathlon became a way to work through her grief after losing her husband to Glioblastoma; and Monica Puig (Puerto Rico/USA), an Olympic gold medalist who was forced to retire from professional tennis at 26 and then found triathlon as a way to replace her competitive spirit and passions. (Photos by Nils Nilsen / IRONMAN)
Hall of Fame Inductees Honored at VIP Reception: Influential and legendary IRONMAN athletes Fernanda Keller (BRA) and Kathleen McCartney (USA) were honored last night at the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship VIP Reception, as they were inducted into the IRONMAN Hall of Fame, recognizing their contribution to the sport. Fernanda and Kathleen were celebrated for their accomplishments on the race course, for which the list is long, but more importantly for their giving back to their communities away from the race course. (Photos by Nils Nilsen / IRONMAN
“A Fighting Chance”: Episode 1 of ‘A Fighting Chance’ presented by Wahoo Fitness is live on IRONMAN Triathlon’s You Tube Channel and tomorrow a new episode will be released, giving viewers an intimate glimpse into the days leading up to race day. The episode features a behind the scenes look at professional athletes Anne Haug (DEU), Chelsea Sodaro (USA), Laura Philipp (DEU), and Hannah Berry (NZL) as they prepare for the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, France.
“A Fighting Chance”: Episode 2 of ‘A Fighting Chance’ presented by Wahoo Fitness is now live on IRONMAN Triathlon’s You Tube Channel, giving viewers an intimate glimpse into the days leading up to race day of the women’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship. The episode features a behind the scenes look at professional athletes Anne Haug (DEU), Chelsea Sodaro (USA), Laura Philipp (DEU), and Hannah Berry (NZL) as they prepare for the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, France.