TAMPA, Fla. — Ironman, in collaboration with both Greater Zion and St. George, Utah officials and local and state Hawaii officials, announced Thursday that the Ironman World Championship will move outside of the state for the first time since the inaugural event in 1978.

The 2021 Supersapiens Ironman World Championship will take place in St. George, Utah, on May 7, 2022 prior to returning to Kona, Hawaii with a new two-day race format on Oct. 6 and 8, 2022.

The event will give professional triathletes the opportunity to claim a world championship title and a share of the $750,000 prize purse.

The ongoing uncertainty regarding Kailua-Kona, Hawaii’s ability to host the event in February required a change in venue, outside of the state.

St. George was selected as the first new host location of the event based on its strong community support, challenging course, and experience hosting Ironman triathlons and other major events, including the recently completed 2021 Intermountain Healthcare Ironman 70.3 World Championship. St. George will also host the 2022 Ironman 70.3 World Championship on Oct. 28-29, 2022.

“The honor to host the first Ironman World Championship outside of Hawaii is as humbling as it is thrilling. There are few events that hold the prestige and respect of the Ironman World Championship in Kona,” Director of the Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office Kevin Lewis said in a statement. “I think we understand the weight and responsibility we now have to carry forward the cherished significance of the Ironman World Championship and we don’t take that responsibility lightly. We have the deepest respect for the Ironman World Championship’s legacy in Hawaii and all that has gone on before – the passion, the dreams, the gut-wrenching persistence, and the human spirit of caring for one another as we push forward to be the best version of ourselves. Hosting the Ironman World Championship here gives us the opportunity to truly honor that legacy with our own brand of enduring success.”

“We are fortunate to have built such a strong and trusted relationship with our friends in the greater St. George region over the past 10-plus years,” President & Chief Executive Officer for The Ironman Group Andrew Messick said. “St. George stepped up to ensure Ironman athletes will have a 2021 world championship, even if delayed into 2022. We all just witnessed why this special place has been dubbed the ‘Land of Endurance’ and we are confident that we will have an outstanding championship in May.”

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Kona’s two-day race

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For the first time in the 40-plus year history of the Ironman World Championship, the pinnacle event for triathlon will take place over two days with the 2022 Ironman World Championship returning to Kona, Hawaii on Oct. 6 and 8, 2022. The two-day event will see an expanded women’s professional field of 50 athletes race on Oct. 6, and 50 professional men race on Oct. 8. Details of the age-group races will be communicated in the coming weeks.

“We expect the races in October of 2022 to be unique and historic,” Messick said. “Two days of racing in Kailua-Kona addresses the overwhelming demand from athletes to race in a World Championship and will allow us to host our deferred athletes and place more emphasis on showcasing our women’s and men’s professional races.”