USA Triathlon Clydesdale and Athena National Championships Rescheduled to Aug. 15 in Pelham, Alabama

May 20, 2020

Next year’s Clydesdale & Athena Nationals to return to Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Triathlon, along with race production company Team Magic, Inc., made the decision today to reschedule the 2020 USA Triathlon Clydesdale & Athena National Championships due to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic.

The championship was initially scheduled for Sunday, June 28 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as part of the Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon hosted by Team Magic. It will now take place as part of Team Magic’s 35th Annual Buster Britton Memorial Triathlon on Saturday, Aug. 15, at Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham, Alabama. The venue is about 20 minutes from downtown Birmingham.

Additionally, USA Triathlon announced that the 2021 Clydesdale & Athena National Championships have been awarded once again to the Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon. The 2021 event is scheduled for June 27.

While race directors are exploring options to host the postponed 2020 Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon later this year, the Clydesdale & Athena National Championships were moved to Alabama in order to provide a confirmed date and venue for the championship division. The state of Alabama has lifted its bans on public gatherings provided strict physical distancing and sanitation protocols can be followed.

“Team Magic was established in 1985 on the foundation of providing safe, enjoyable, high-quality events for endurance racers,” said Faye Yates, Owner and Director of Team Magic, Inc. and Race Director for the 2020 and 2021 USA Triathlon Clydesdale & Athena National Championships. “The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us in varying ways, and similarly, each city across the nation is impacted in varying ways. Thanks to strong partnerships with USA Triathlon, Oak Mountain State Park, Shelby County, the city of Pelham and finally the city of Birmingham, we are pleased to offer a secure rescheduled date so that our championship athletes can maximize their training and preparations.”

“As we continue to navigate the impact of COVID-19 on multisport events nationwide, it is important to be flexible and look for solutions to provide opportunities for our athletes,” said Brian D’Amico, Director of Events at USA Triathlon. “The safety of all competitors, staff, volunteers and the community at large remain our highest priority, and we will continue to evaluate the situation surrounding COVID-19 as the Aug. 15 race date for Clydesdale & Athena Nationals approaches. We appreciate the patience and support we have seen from our athlete community during this time, and we applaud Team Magic’s commitment to hosting this championship at the world-class venue at Oak Mountain State Park.”

Athletes currently registered for the 2020 Clydesdale & Athena National Championships have a variety of deferral options, including transferring their registration to the rescheduled 2020 event in Pelham, the 2021 Clydesdale & Athena National Championships in Chattanooga, or any future Team Magic event in 2020 or 2021. Athletes will receive an email from Team Magic with more details about how to select a deferral option.

Clydesdale & Athena Nationals have been held as a standalone event on USA Triathlon’s National Championship calendar since 2014. The Clydesdale and Athena competitive divisions are based on weight minimums outlined in the USA Triathlon Competitive Rules. Athletes competing in the Clydesdale division must be a minimum of 220 pounds, and athletes in the Athena division must be a minimum of 165 pounds.

The 2020 Clydesdale & Athena National Championships will feature sprint-distance (400-yard swim, 12-mile bike, 3-mile run) and Olympic-distance (1,200-yard swim, 24-mile  bike, 5.6-mile run) races, with three age divisions each for Clydesdales (men) and Athenas (women).

For more information and to register for the rescheduled USA Triathlon Clydesdale & Athena National Championships, click here.

Continual updates from USA Triathlon regarding COVID-19 are available at usatriathlon.org/covid-19. USA Triathlon continues to monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19, while following the guidance of local authorities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), when making decisions regarding the status of USA Triathlon events and programs. Any further potential changes to USA Triathlon’s National Championships event calendar will be communicated immediately.

About USA Triathlon

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 events and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

– usatriathlon.org –