Official Start List: Star Power Runs Deep for 2024 Ironman World Championship

The release of the official start list for Saturday's Ironman World Championship confirms what many suspected - this could be the deepest professional field ever to race in Kona. With 55 professional men set to line up on, the talent runs deep through the entire field.

The Top Seeds

Defending champion Sam Laidlow (FRA) will wear race number 1, followed by former champions Patrick Lange (GER) and Gustav Iden (NOR). The rest of the top 10 seeded athletes includes:

• Magnus Ditlev (DEN)
• Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR)
• Rudy Von Berg (USA)
• Braden Currie (NZL)
• Matt Hanson (USA)
• Matt Burton (AUS)
• Matthew Marquardt (USA)

Notable Veterans

Several past podium finishers return seeking glory:

• Lionel Sanders (CAN) - 2nd in 2017
• David McNamee (GBR) - 3rd in 2017 and 2018
• Braden Currie (NZL) - 3rd in 2021

Rising Stars

The field includes several breakthrough performers from 2023:

• Kieran Lindars (GBR) - Winner IRONMAN Frankfurt
• Leon Chevalier (FRA) - Winner IRONMAN Israel
• Magnus Elbaek (DEN) - Winner IRONMAN Texas

By The Numbers

• 55: Total professional men starting
• 19: Countries represented
• 6: Previous IRONMAN World Championship podium finishers
• 4: Former champions in the field
• 12: First-time Kona professionals

Continental Breakdown

• Europe: 28 starters
• North America: 12 starters
• Oceania: 8 starters
• Asia: 4 starters
• South America: 3 starters

The race begins at 6:25 AM Hawaii time on Saturday, with professional men starting their 2.4-mile swim in Kailua Bay. The 112-mile bike course takes athletes through the lava fields along the Queen K Highway, before the marathon finale determines who will claim the sport's most prestigious title.