Maple Valley, Washington becomes newest IRONMAN 70.3 destination

December 12, 2019

Inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Washington – Maple Valley triathlon schedule for September 20, 2020

MAPLE VALLEY, Wash. / TAMPA, Fla. (December 12, 2019) – The IRONMAN Group, a Wanda Sports Group company (Nasdaq: WSG), announced today that Maple Valley, Washington will serve as the newest  host venue for the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series. The inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Washington – Maple Valley triathlon will take place on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020 with general registration opening Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020 at www.ironman.com/im703-washington.

 “We are thrilled to bring an IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon back to the state of Washington,” said Dave Christen, Regional Director for The IRONMAN Group. “Maple Valley, Washington will play host to one of the most enjoyable and accessible IRONMAN 70.3 triathlons in the U.S., in that everything will be hosted in one convenient location just outside of Seattle. This late season IRONMAN 70.3 race in the Northwest provides a much-needed option for our new and returning athletes. Maple Valley is a place you will love to race in and a community you may not want to leave!”

Maple Valley is a vibrant, active community located about 30 minutes east of Seattle and Tacoma. Equidistant from the waters of Puget Sound and the landscapes of the Cascade Mountains, Maple Valley offers an extraordinary location to enjoy all that the region has to offer. The City is also one of the fastest growing population areas in Washington State.

“Hosting this prestigious sporting event is a direct reflection of the vitality of our community,” said Sean P. Kelly, Mayor of the City of Maple Valley. “The strength of our community partnerships was instrumental in bringing this event to Maple Valley. We are honored to be selected and appreciate all of the hard work of the many people who made it possible.”

The 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 Washington – Maple Valley triathlon, taking place on Sunday, September 20, will begin with a rolling start format. The 1.2-mile swim will take place in the clear lake waters of Lake Wilderness Park. The lake area is surrounded by evergreen trees that offer stunning views of Mount Rainier. Once out of the water, athletes will take on the 56-mile bike course around the rural towns with rolling hills of King County before returning to Lake Wilderness Park. After transitioning to the run at Lake Wilderness Park, athletes will embark on a 13.1-mile run along the paved trails alongside the Lake Wilderness Park.

“Maple Valley is excited and honored to be selected to host IRONMAN 70.3 Washington – Maple Valley,” Said Laura Philpot, City Manager for City of Maple Valley. “We are very proud of our outdoor recreational opportunities and we believe athletes and visitors will thoroughly enjoy visiting our awesome city and our beautiful Lake Wilderness Park! I personally am ecstatic to race IRONMAN 70.3 Washington – Maple Valley!”

“I’m proud to partner with Maple Valley to provide support for the IRONMAN 70.3 competition,” said King County Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn. “Besides being a fun and inspiring event, hosting a major triathlon raises the profile of the community and provides a boost to the local economy.”

General registration for 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 Washington – Maple Valley triathlon will open on Tuesday, January 14, 2020. The event will offer age-group qualifying slots to the 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship taking place in St. George, Utah.

For more information on the 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 Washington triathlon, visit www.ironman.com/im703-Washington and follow with the social media hashtag #IM703WA.For more information on the IRONMAN brand and global event series, visit www.ironman.com. Athlete inquiries can be directed to washington70.3@ironman.com. Media related inquiries may be directed to press@ironman.com.

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About Maple Valley

Situated within 30 minutes of Seattle and Tacoma, this fast-growing community is home to a well-educated and highly skilled workforce. Major area employers of Maple Valley residents include: Boeing, Amazon, Expedia, Adobe, REI, Microsoft, Starbucks, Google, Nordstrom and Costco. Historically known for coal, timber, and rail, and once a lakeside resort getaway for nearby Seattle residents, Maple Valley is a dynamic, enjoyable and safe place to live. Civically-engaged residents, supportive community services, and an abundance of outdoor activities, make it a great place to Live, Work, Play, Every Day! Maple Valley was voted as “Best Town for Families,” by Family Circle magazine in 2011 and also has three developed parks – Lake Wilderness Park, Summit Park & Ballfields, and Take-A-Break Park. With three lakes, a golf course, and several miles of trails, including the Green to Cedar Rivers Trail that connects to the Cedar River Trail, Maple Valley offers many recreational activities and events throughout the year. For more information on Maple Valley, Washington, visit www.maplevalleywa.gov.

About The IRONMAN Group

As part of Wanda Sports Group, The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series^®, IRONKIDS^®, ITU World Triathlon Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and The Sun-Herald City2Surf^® presented by Westpac, Ultra-Trail^® World Tour events including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail Australia™, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, road cycling events, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world and provides more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN^® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with more than 235 events across 55+ countries. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.

About Wanda Sports Group

Wanda Sports Group (Nasdaq: WSG) is a leading global sports events, media and marketing platform with a mission to unite people in sports and enable athletes and fans to live their passions and dreams. Through our businesses, including Infront and The IRONMAN Group, we have significant intellectual property rights, long-term relationships and broad execution capabilities, enabling us to deliver unrivalled sports event experiences, creating access to engaging content and building inclusive communities. We offer a comprehensive array of events, marketing and media services through three primary segments: Mass Participation, Spectator Sports and Digital, Production, Sports Solutions (DPSS). Our full-service platform creates value for our partners and clients as well as other stakeholders in the sports ecosystem, from rights owners, to brands and advertisers, and to fans and athletes. Headquartered in Beijing, China, Wanda Sports Group has more than 60 offices and 1,600 employees around the world.