Ironman Making Changes to Swimming Portion of Races After Deaths
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World Triathlon Corp., the owner of the sport’s Ironman-branded events, is making changes to the swim portion of select races after an increase in competitor deaths in recent years.
Events in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Lake Placid, New York; and Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, will no longer feature a mass swim start format, eliminating a long-standing Ironman tradition. Athletes at those races will either enter the water in a continuous stream through an access point, with their time starting when they cross a timing mat, or in staggered waves based on their age group.