PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – The Visit Panama City Beach IRONMAN Florida triathlon, part of the VinFast IRONMAN North America Series, will celebrate its 25th edition on Nov. 4.
Since its inception in 1999, this event has become the longest consecutively running IRONMAN event in North America.
“We are thrilled to celebrate this incredible milestone for IRONMAN Florida in Panama City Beach,” says Chris O’Brien, director of sports marketing and special events for Visit Panama City Beach. “For the past 25 years, we have welcomed athletes to our beautiful destination for an IRONMAN experience like no other, and we look forward to showcasing [the city] for an unforgettable 25th edition of IRONMAN Florida this November.”
To commemorate the event, a series of special activities are scheduled throughout the race week leading up to the event. These include an alumni class photo opportunity against the backdrop of the illuminated SkyWheel at Pier Park, a participant signing wall, and a finish line celebration. Additionally, finishers of the triathlon will receive a unique finisher medal crafted by local Bay County students and a special 25th-anniversary coin.
The event has attracted athletes from across the globe to the destination. The event begins with a 2.4-mile swim in the Gulf of Mexico around the Russell-Fields Pier, followed by a flat and fast, one-loop, 112-mile bike course, and concludes with a 26.2-mile run along the Emerald Coast shoreline.
Panama City Beach is the only city in Florida to host two annual IRONMAN events, with the Visit Panama City Beach IRONMAN 70.3 Gulf Coast triathlon scheduled for May 2024. The triathlon will offer qualifying slots to the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship, with the women’s race in Nice, France on Sept. 22, 2024, and the men’s race in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i on Oct. 26, 2024.
