IRONMAN Global Athletes’ Choice Award Winners 2025

IRONMAN has today announced the 2025 IRONMAN^® and IRONMAN^®70.3^® Athletes’ Choice Awards winners, highlighting the top-scoring events in a variety of categories based on athletes’ post-event surveys from all last year’s global IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 races.
 
Among all IRONMAN Series races worldwide, the IRONMAN Les Sables d’Olonne-Vendée triathlon (France) claimed the top honor for Overall Event Satisfaction, rising to the top among the 38 full-distance IRONMAN events for 2025. In the IRONMAN 70.3 Series, the IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun triathlon in Austria topped the chart for Overall Event Satisfaction out of more than 114 IRONMAN 70.3 races.
 
Thibault Vellard, Regional Director for France said: “2025 marked the first ever IRONMAN Les Sables d’Olonne-Vendée triathlon, having previously taken place as an IRONMAN 70.3 event. Les Sables has long been one of our most popular race venues on the circuit, with the IRONMAN 70.3 race selling out in record time year after year. It’s incredibly rewarding to see that same athlete passion is now reflected in the full-distance IRONMAN event. The community’s energy, our dedicated volunteers, and the unique character of the Vendée coastline have always made this event special. While we return to the IRONMAN 70.3 format for 2026, we look forward to continuing to exceed athlete's expectations."
 
Patrick Schoerkmayer, Race Director for IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun triathlon commented: “Zell am See-Kaprun is one of the most iconic settings in our sport, and athletes continue to be inspired by its breathtaking alpine landscapes. This race is a highlight of the season for so many, and we’re committed to delivering an unforgettable experience from start to finish. The combination of natural beauty, challenging terrain, and an incredibly supportive community makes this event truly world-class.”
 
In addition to the top honors for Overall Event Satisfaction, this year’s Athletes’ Choice Awards also spotlighted standout performances across key race experience categories. The IRONMAN Kalmar-Sweden race continued its strong legacy by sweeping Best Bike Course, Best Run Course and Most Recommended Race, while the IRONMAN Malaysia event earned the top spot for Best Swim Course. For the IRONMAN 70.3 Series, the IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun race also picked up the accolade for Best Bike Course, with the IRONMAN 70.3 Western Australia event securing Best Swim Course and the IRONMAN 70.3 Washington Tri-Cities race earning Best Run Course. The IRONMAN 70.3 Cartagena triathlon rounded out the list as the Most Recommended Race among the global IRONMAN 70.3 field. These recognitions reflect the exceptional race venues and passionate host communities that help create unforgettable race experiences for athletes from around the world.
 
Approximately 30,000 total survey respondents gave feedback to decide the winners for each category of IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events, marking a major accomplishment for the winning events and their host communities.