The road to Kona now runs through Denmark with Ironman Copenhagen the newest triathlon on the calendar

The KMD IRONMAN ^® Copenhagen and KMD IRONMAN 70.3 ^® Aarhus triathlons are the newest additions to the global IRONMAN race calendar. KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen will offer 50 slots for the IRONMAN World Championshipin Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

(COPENHAGEN/HANAU, July 3, 2013) “Since 1978, racing at the IRONMAN ^® World Championship in Kailua-Kona has been a dream of triathletes worldwide. Now this dream will come true for 50 athletes who will race in the KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen triathlon on August 18. Today, IRONMAN officially announced two events in Denmark  ­“KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen and KMD IRONMAN 70.3 ^® Aarhus.

“Together with our friends at YWC Sports, which we acquired a short while ago, title sponsor KMD and the city of Copenhagen, we are delighted to add Copenhagen to our list of superb events around the world. We all believe that our acquisition of YWC Sports provides a unique opportunity for the race to grow into one of the top in the world and become an anchor race in Scandinavia,” said Andrew Messick, Chief Executive Officer of IRONMAN, at a press conference in Copenhagen. Other attendees of the press conference included Pia Allerslev, Mayor of Culture and Leisure, KMD Chief Executive Officer Lars Monrad-Gylling, YWC Sports Chief Executive Officer Thomas Veje Olsen and Thomas Dieckhoff, Chief Executive Officer of IRONMAN Europe, Middle East and Africa.

As of now, four IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 races take place in Scandinavia: IRONMAN Kalmar (Sweden), IRONMAN 70.3 Haugesund (Norway), KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen and KMD IRONMAN 70.3 Aarhus.

“After YWC Sports approached us we immediately realized that Thomas Veje Olsen and his team are perfect partners to bring the iconic IRONMAN brand and the unique quality expected from our races to Denmark.” said Thomas Dieckhoff. “This step consolidates our position in Scandinavia but we are even happier for the athletes as the ‘Road to Kona’ now runs through Denmark.”

About IRONMAN

The iconic IRONMAN ® Series of events is the largest participation sports platform in the world.   Since the inception of the IRONMAN ® brand in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE ® by crossing finish lines at the world’s most challenging endurance races. Recognized for excellence through distinguished events, world-class athletes and quality products, World Triathlon Corporation (d/b/a IRONMAN), owner and operator of the IRONMAN ® Series, has grown from owner of a single race to a global sensation with nearly 190 events across five unique brands: IRONMAN ®, IRONMAN 70.3 ®, 5150 „¢ Triathlon Series, Iron Girl ® and IronKids ®. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.