CURRENT - Sparkassen Finanzgruppe IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship Wiesbaden - Tragical accident At today´s IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship in Wiesbaden, a tragical accident occurred. An athlete had to be rescued by a life guard boat during the swim course. The athlete was reanimated by medical personnel directly on the boat which was continued in the ambulance. Unfortunately, all further medical treatments in the hospital were unsuccessful. We are deeply concerned and express our condolences and compassion to the family of the athlete. - Sparkassen Finanzgruppe IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship Wiesbaden - Ironman 70.3 World Champion Michael Raelert remains undefeated Michael Raelert remains undefeated since now more than half a year in his fourth race after his victory at the Foster Grant IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship 2009. He is the new IRONMAN 70.3 European Champion, winning the Sparkassen Finanzgruppe IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship 2010 in Wiesbaden, following in his brother Andreas´ footsteps, who won the competition over the full IRONMAN distance in Frankfurt. Michael Raelert crossed the finish line in front of the Kurhaus Wiesbaden, exhausted but happy after 4:03:48 hours. Last year´s winner Sebastian Kienle who was defeated in the final run lap, finishing in 4:05:56 hours. The podium was completed by Björn ANDERSSON from Sweden. He arrived about 5 minutes after the winner in 4:09:09 hours. Last year´s women´s champion Yvonne van Vlerken (NED) repeated her triumph and gained the title of European Champion on the IRONMAN 70.3 distance with a time of 4:41:52 hours. Desirée Ficker from the United States came in second after 4:42:15 hours, closely followed by Kristin Möller (Erlangen) who finished in 4:43:11 hours. This high class sporting event took place for the fourth time in Hessen´s state capital Wiesbaden and its surrounding district. 3.300 athletes from 54 nations, 2.400 individual racers and 310 relays started in the Sparkassen Finanzgruppe IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship. They faced the challenge of 1,9 km swim, 90 km bike and 21,1 km run. Tens of thousands of spectators experienced professional and amateur athletes facing the “toughest half-day of the year”. Kai Walter (Managing Director IRONMAN European Headquarters): “We have again seen outstanding achievements, which could not have been realized without the fantastic support of the public and the over 2000 volunteers. Such days are long remembered by athletes and spectators alike.“ - Sparkassen Finanzgruppe IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship Wiesbaden - IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship Wiesbaden, August 14, 2011 On August 15, 2010 at 6pm we will open the online registration for the second edition of IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship on August 14, 2011. The Online Registration starts here. - Sparkassen Finanzgruppe IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship Wiesbaden - Ironman Allocates $100,000 for Donation Toward Gulf Coast Oil Spill Relief June 8, 2010 (Tampa, Fla.) – World Triathlon Corporation, owner of the global Ironman Triathlon Series, announces its contribution to the oil spill relief effort in the Gulf of Mexico. The Ironman Foundation, the company´s charitable arm, has earmarked a total of $100,000 to support the efforts and its first donation of $25,000 will be made to Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, an organization that has been instrumental in assisting those affected by the oil spill in the state of Louisiana. Ironman, headquartered off Florida´s West coast, plans to offer additional assistance to related organizations in the coming weeks. President and CEO of Ironman, Ben Fertic comments, “My family has been in Florida for six generations and I am devastated by the BP oil spill and the ongoing destruction it is causing not only to the environment, but also to the families whose livelihoods are dependent upon the Gulf of Mexico. As a company, we are always looking for unique ways to help preserve the natural resources in our host communities. We believe our contribution to Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans will offer direct support to the fishing and shrimping families in their time of need. We look forward to providing additional aid to clean-up efforts around the Gulf Coast and hope these types of donations will have a meaningful impact.” Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans is an umbrella agency with 45 programs delivering health and human services to the poor and vulnerable in the 8 civil parishes of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Just days after the spill, Archbishop Gregory Aymond, Catholic Charities co-president Gordon Wadge, Second Harvest CEO Natalie Jayroe and a CCANO disaster response team, met with government leaders in Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes. By the first week of May, Catholic Charities was offering assistance in both St. Bernard and at two oil spill relief centers in Plaquemines Parish. In just a few short weeks, the number of Catholic Charities´ centers around New Orleans now totals five. To date, the organization has provided emergency assistance to more than 2,300 families, served 952 food boxes, given more than $140,000 in gift cards/food vouchers and counseled more than 700 individuals. “One-hundred percent of this donation from The Ironman Foundation will go directly to assistance for the fishermen. The fishermen of Southeast Louisiana are a strong, resilient and independent group who are accustomed to providing for themselves and their families. The threat of losing not only their livelihood, but also our culture and way of life has been a tremendous blow. We deeply appreciate the commitment from one strong group to another,” said Gordon Wadge, co-president of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans. The Ironman Foundation has raised more than $3,500,000 through various initiatives, including a charitable eBay auction, since its inception in 2003. Throughout the last eight years, the Foundation has provided charitable assistance with donations and grants being received by a variety of local and worldwide organizations such as: The Pediatric Cancer Foundation, C Different, The American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Red Cross, American Heart Association, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boy Scouts of America, among others. For more information on Ironman and The Ironman Foundation, log on to www.ironman.com. To learn about Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, please visit www.ccano.org. Media-related inquiries can be directed to Blair LaHaye at Blair@ironman.com or Jessica Weidensall at Jessica@ironman.com. Both parties may be reached at 813-868-5940. - Sparkassen Finanzgruppe IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship Wiesbaden - World Triathlon Corporation Announces Professional Athlete Program November 6, 2009 (Tampa, Fla.) – To complement its recent Anti-Doping initiative announcement, World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) has created the Ironman Pro Membership Program. In an effort to standardize and enhance WTC´s events worldwide, acceptance into the program will be mandatory for all professional athletes competing in future Ironman and 70.3 Events. The program will officially begin on February 1, 2010. WTC will collaborate with national triathlon federations to build upon this new program. “The launch of the Ironman Pro Membership Program on the heels of WTC´s Anti-Doping initiative is another significant step toward the standardization of Ironman events around the globe. This program addresses many of the issues facing pro athletes, such as prize money, qualifying slots and size and quality of the field. The ongoing input and support from race directors is a testament to the importance of further establishing consistency in these areas,” says Heather Fuhr, WTC Pro Liaison and 15-time Ironman Champion. An annual membership fee of 750,- USD includes complimentary entry into all Ironman and 70.3 qualifying events worldwide within the calendar year and inclusion in WTC´s Anti-Doping initiative. Online registration for the Ironman Pro Membership Program will begin on November 9, 2009 through Active.com. Ford Ironman World Champions, Craig Alexander and Michellie Jones, both had comments about the announcement: • “The new program created by WTC provides professional athletes with a platform, as well as a variety of advantages that not only benefit us, but also the sport as a whole. I am excited for the new initiatives being driven by Ironman, as they will ensure we are all participating among a clean and level playing field.” -- Michellie Jones • “The Ironman Pro Membership Program is good for the athletes and good for our sport. The implementation of its Anti-Doping initiative is long overdue and hopefully will ensure a fairer sport.“ -- Craig Alexander Further program details and deadlines for event-related registration can be located by visiting http://www.ironmancenter.com/pros. For media-related questions, please contact Blair LaHaye at Blair@ironman.com or 813-868-5929. All event information on the Ironman and 70.3 Event Series can be found at www.ironman.com.