IRONMAN Global Athletes’ Choice Award Winners Announced for 2025 IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlons

February 25, 2026

• IRONMAN Les Sables d’Olonne-Vendée (France) and IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun (Austria) triathlons earn top global honors
• There were approximately 250,000 race registrations across IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events in 2025

TAMPA, Fla. (February 25, 2026) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – IRONMAN has today announced the 2025 IRONMAN^® and IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Athletes’ Choice Awards winners, highlighting the top-scoring events in a variety of categories based on athletes’ post-event surveys from all last year’s global IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 races.

Among all IRONMAN Series races worldwide, the IRONMAN Les Sables d’Olonne-Vendée triathlon (France) claimed the top honor for Overall Event Satisfaction, rising to the top among the 38 full-distance IRONMAN events for 2025. In the IRONMAN 70.3 Series, the IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See‑Kaprun triathlon in Austria topped the chart for Overall Event Satisfaction out of more than 114 IRONMAN 70.3 races.

Thibault Vellard, Regional Director for France said: “2025 marked the first ever IRONMAN Les Sables d’Olonne‑Vendée triathlon, having previously taken place as an IRONMAN 70.3 event. Les Sables has long been one of our most popular race venues on the circuit, with the IRONMAN 70.3 race selling out in record time year after year. It’s incredibly rewarding to see that same athlete passion is now reflected in the full‑distance IRONMAN event. The community’s energy, our dedicated volunteers, and the unique character of the Vendée coastline have always made this event special. While we return to the IRONMAN 70.3 format for 2026, we look forward to continuing to exceed athlete’s expectations.”

Patrick Schoerkmayer, Race Director for IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun triathlon commented: “Zell am See‑Kaprun is one of the most iconic settings in our sport, and athletes continue to be inspired by its breathtaking alpine landscapes. This race is a highlight of the season for so many, and we’re committed to delivering an unforgettable experience from start to finish. The combination of natural beauty, challenging terrain, and an incredibly supportive community makes this event truly world‑class.”

In addition to the top honors for Overall Event Satisfaction, this year’s Athletes’ Choice Awards also spotlighted standout performances across key race experience categories. The IRONMAN Kalmar-Sweden race continued its strong legacy by sweeping Best Bike Course, Best Run Course and Most Recommended Race, while the IRONMAN Malaysia event earned the top spot for Best Swim Course. For the IRONMAN 70.3 Series, the IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun race also picked up the accolade for Best Bike Course, with the IRONMAN 70.3 Western Australia event securing Best Swim Course and the IRONMAN 70.3 Washington Tri-Cities race earning Best Run Course. The IRONMAN 70.3 Cartagena triathlon rounded out the list as the Most Recommended Race among the global IRONMAN 70.3 field. These recognitions reflect the exceptional race venues and passionate host communities that help create unforgettable race experiences for athletes from around the world.

Approximately 30,000 total survey respondents gave feedback to decide the winners for each category of IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events, marking a major accomplishment for the winning events and their host communities.

Below are the top performers in each category for the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 Global Series events:

Best Overall Race

• IRONMAN Series– IRONMAN Les Sables d’Olonne-Vendée (France)
• IRONMAN 70.3 Series– IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See‑Kaprun (Austria)

Best Swim Course

• IRONMAN Series– IRONMAN Malaysia
• IRONMAN 70.3 Series – IRONMAN 70.3 Western Australia (Australia)

Best Bike Course

• IRONMAN Series– IRONMAN Kalmar-Sweden
• IRONMAN 70.3 Series– IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See‑Kaprun (Austria)

Best Run Course

• IRONMAN Series– IRONMAN Kalmar-Sweden
• IRONMAN 70.3 Series – IRONMAN 70.3 Washington (United States of America)

Most Recommended

• IRONMAN Series – IRONMAN Kalmar-Sweden
• IRONMAN 70.3 Series – IRONMAN 70.3 Cartagena (Colombia)

Top five results of each category are listed in appendix.

In addition to these global accolades, regional fan-favorites were also identified and will be announced in due course. To explore the full list of 2025 Global Athletes’ Choice Award winners, visit www.ironman.com/athletes-choice-2025.

Limited spots remain in many of the most popular IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 triathlons globally for the 2026 season. Athletes are encouraged to check out open IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events globally by visiting www.ironman.com/races.

For more information on the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 brand and global event series, please visit www.ironman.com. Media inquiries may be directed to press@ironman.com.

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About The IRONMAN Group

The IRONMAN Group is the world’s largest operator of participation sports with a portfolio of brands, events, media, partners, merchandise, and digital platforms operating in over 50 countries worldwide. A global portfolio consisting of hundreds of events includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, IRONKIDS^®, premier running events including the Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Running Series and City2Surf^®, the UTMB^® World Series of trail running, the Epic Series™ of mountain biking including the Absa Cape Epic^®, and a collection of road cycling and other multisport races. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN^® brand and its first event in 1978, millions of athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines around the world. From its beginnings as a single race among friends in Hawai’i, The IRONMAN Group has become a global sensation and collection of high-growth lifestyle brands that inspire people to unlock their potential in life. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.

APPENDIX A: Top Results for each category