The ISUZU IRONMAN South Africa African Championship is set to return to Nelson Mandela Bay on Sunday 30 March 2025 for the 20th time as a long-distance race, with entries opening on Wednesday, 13 June 2024 at 14:00 local time.
Alongside the main IRONMAN race, the expanded weekend of events will see the return of ISUZU Corporate Triathlon Challenge, powered by AlgoaFM, ISUZU 5150 Nelson Mandela Bay and IRONKIDS South Africa.
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Something for everyone
At the 20th anniversary edition of the ISUZU IRONMAN African Championship, Sunday (30 March) will belong exclusively to the IRONMAN athletes, returning the spotlight to those who will swim 3.8km, bike 180.2km and run 42.2km on the world-renowned course.
The annual ISUZU Corporate Triathlon Challenge powered by Algoa FM will precede the main event on the Saturday (29 March 2025), along with the inaugural ISUZU 5150 Nelson Mandela Bay and the return of IRONKIDS South Africa.
The 5150 Nelson Mandela Bay triathlon, which consists of a 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run, previously took place as a standalone triathlon at Kings Beach but will form part of the IRONMAN weekend in 2025 taking place at Hobie Beach and finishing on the same red carpet as the ISUZU IRONMAN South Africa African Championship.
The weekend’s events will offer something for everyone and athletes of all levels giving friends, family and children of the IRONMAN athletes as well as the wider Nelson Mandela Bay community an opportunity to be part of the weekend and to get their very own moment of glory on the famed IRONMAN red carpet.
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Legendary location
It was in 2005 that the first group of athletes lined up on Hobie Beach to take on the first IRONMAN South Africa in Nelson Mandela Bay setting in motion a movement that has seen thousands of athletes from around South Africa and the world achieve something extraordinary on the shores of the Bay.
Nelson Mandela Bay has been the platform for the emergence of homegrown professional IRONMAN champions in Raynard Tissink, Kyle Buckingham and James Cunnama alongside local athletes who become age group world champions in Michelle Enslin and Alec Riddle, whose son Jamie – a former ISUZU Corporate Triathlon Challenge winner – will represent South Africa in triathlon at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris this year.
Known for the challenging course and the fantastic Nelson Mandela Bay supporters, the race has also attracted some of the sport’s biggest stars and world champions over the years, including Chrissie Wellington, Natascha Badmann, Frederik Van Lierde, Lucy Charles-Barclay and others.
“It has been incredible to see this event grow to become what it is today and the impact it has had on Nelson Mandela Bay and the South African triathlon scene. Today this city is known as the IRONMAN city of Africa having been home to the only IRONMAN on the African continent and we are excited to stage an unforgettable event for our athletes and the city next year to mark 20 years in Nelson Mandela Bay.” said Michele Bronkhorst, IRONMAN South Africa Operations Director.
Early access registration for the ISUZU IRONMAN South Africa African Championship opens 11 June with general registration opening 17 June. Registration for ISUZU Corporate Triathlon Challenge powered by Algoa FM, ISUZU 5150 Nelson Mandela Bay and IRONKIDS South Africa will open at a later date.
