The picturesque town of Gurye, Korea has been selected to host the newest IRONMAN triathlon in Asia. The IRONMAN Gurye, Korea triathlon will take place on September 10, 2017.
Playing host to IRONMAN 70.3 Gurye, Korea for the past three years, Gurye has proven to be a superb destination to visit. Located in the southwest portion of Korea, it is readily accessible from many major cities including Seoul, Busan, and Gwangju. The growth of IRONMAN triathlons in Asia is set to continue with the addition of IRONMAN Gurye, Korea as the location has become a go-to destination for local and international IRONMAN athletes over the years. It will be the first full-distance IRONMAN triathlon in Korea since 2007.
"The enthusiasm for IRONMAN races in Korea is tremendous. We have been planning to bring a full-distance IRONMAN triathlon to Korea for months and now we've found the right partners and the perfect venue with Gurye-Gun County," said Geoff Meyer, Managing Director, IRONMAN Asia. "We are really excited about this new race and look forward to welcoming athletes from all around the world in September 2017."
Athletes will begin with a 3.8 km swim in the pristine fresh water of Jirisan Lake, surrounded by the natural beauty of Jirisan National Park. Athletes will then experience a mostly flat and fast 180 km bike course throughout the scenic Gurye region, passing picturesque mountains, swaying rice fields and the winding Seomjingang River. The 42.195 km run course will take athletes onto trails around the lake and onto the wide-open country road, flanked by cheering local villagers before heading into Jayeon-dream Park resort for an energetic finish line.
"We are delighted to be given an opportunity to host the IRONMAN event in Korea. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the athletes and IRONMAN for their support and encouragement over the past three years," said Mr. Seo Gi-Dong, Mayor of Gurye-gun County. "This event will offer athletes a safe and healthy environment that will allow them to reach their full potential."
General registration for IRONMAN Gurye, Korea, will open on January 18, 2017, at www.ironman.com/korea. The 2017 IRONMAN Gurye, Korea triathlon will offer 30 age-group qualifying slots for the 2018 IRONMAN World Championship taking place on October 13 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.