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Nelson Mandela Bay is gearing up for the 20th installment of the ISUZU IRONMAN South Africa African Championship this weekend, with defending champions Rasmus Svenningsson and Marta Sanchez back to defend their titles.
Local hero, Jamie Riddle, will make his "much-anticipated" full-distance IRONMAN debut on home turf.
Thousands of athletes and spectators will descend on Nelson Mandela Bay for the Spec-Savers IRONKIDS, the ISUZU Corporate Triathlon Challenge, and the 20th edition of ISUZU IRONMAN.
Among the racers is South African Olympian Jamie Riddle, who will be making his debut.
In a statement, the organization says athletes will be racing for a share of $175,000, one of five slots per gender to the 2025 IRONMAN World Championship, and the title of IRONMAN African Champion.
Alongside the pro athletes racing, many age-group athletes will compete across the four events over the weekend.
Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor Babalwa Lobishe says Ironman has become an integral part of the City’s sporting and tourism landscape.
“For 20 years, we have witnessed extraordinary feats of human endurance right here in Nelson Mandela Bay. This event continues to inspire our youth, boost our economy, and position our city as the ultimate destination for global sporting events. As we celebrate this milestone, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting IRONMAN for the next 20 years and ensuring its continued success in our city.”
She says that beyond the sporting spectacle, the event continues to be a major economic driver for the city.
“Lifesaving Nelson Mandela Bay hereby affirms its full support for the city to bolster the swim leg of the Ironman as it should be. We thank the city for meeting us halfway to ensure that we continue a strong relationship and ensure the safety of our community and tourists when visiting our beaches and facilities. We wish all athletes the best of luck with the Ironman”, said Earl Ingram, president of the Nelson Mandela Bay Lifesaving.
The event will kick off officially on Friday with the Spec-Savers IRONKIDS South Africa, and on Saturday, both the ISUZU Corporate Triathlon Challenge and ISUZU 5150 Nelson Mandela Bay take centre stage.
On Sunday, from 6:30 ISUZU IRONMAN South Africa African Championship begins with pro men, followed by pro women, and then age group athletes at Hobie Beach.
Spectators can also look forward to a bumper weekend of race viewing. Not only can they look forward to the four races in one weekend, including 17 hours of racing action on Sunday, but they also get to see some of the world’s best professional athletes live in Nelson Mandela Bay. Spectators can be expected to bring the party into the night at the public bar, as they enjoy the village featuring a selfie booth and an IRONFAN area with temporary tattoos and hair braiding.
It’s set to be Nelson Mandela Bay’s biggest celebration of 2025.
