Ironman, along with the Jönköping Municipality and Destination Jönköping, has announced that Jönköping, Sweden, will be the host of the 2025 IM 70.3 European Championship triathlon.
Jönköping, a city on the shores of Lake Vättern, in southern Sweden, has been hosting the Ironman 70.3 Jönköping triathlon since 2016, and was voted the 2nd Best Overall Race Globally in the 2023 IM Athletes’ Choice Awards.
Jönköping will take the baton from Tallinn, Estonia, which hosted the IM 70.3 European Championship race in 2023, as well as this year’s upcoming edition, which takes place on Sunday, August 25, 2024.
As the 2025 Ironman 70.3 European Championship event, the race in Jönköping will expect to welcome a strong cohort of professional athletes who will be racing for a share of an elevated regional championship prize purse (yet to be determined), the title of IM 70.3 European Champion, and expanded slots for the 2026 IM 70.3 World Championship (date and destination TBC).
The 2024 edition of the IM 70.3 Jönköping triathlon took place on July 7, and welcomed the event’s biggest international field yet, with 38% of registered athletes coming in from overseas (in comparison to 26% of international athletes last year). After Sweden – the UK, Norway, Germany and Denmark were the most represented countries, with athletes traveling from as far as South Africa, Canada, New Zealand and Ecuador.
Magnus Nyberg, Race Director for the IM 70.3 Jönköping race, said “It’s amazing for Jönköping to get the chance to host the IM 70.3 European Championship triathlon.
“The Municipality of Jönköping and Destination Jönköping have been very supportive and trusting throughout the process. We already have an event of absolute world-class quality, and the European Championship status will certainly add an extra dimension to it. I want to say a big thank you to Destination Jönköping, without whom we wouldn’t be able to support everyday people in chasing their dreams.”
Nyberg added, “This year we welcomed our biggest international field of athletes yet. Our course really captures the imagination of all our athletes – whether first timer or a seasoned triathlete – and we were over the moon to have it recognized by our athletes as the 2nd Best Overall Ironman 70.3 triathlon globally.
“We look forward to hosting even more athletes at next year’s edition of the race, so they too can experience the beauty of the region and an amazing race day experience.”
Caroline Törnblad, Head of Meetings and Events at Destination Jönköping, said “We are now seeing an increased interest in triathlon and the IM 70.3 Jönköping race after the pandemic, and the number of participants and international interest are higher this year than last year.
“By adding the European Championship, we look forward to further elevating the status and welcoming professional athletes from around the world to the event city of Jönköping. We look forward to taking the race to the next level.”
In Jönköping, athletes will take on a 1.9km (1.2 mile) lake swim in Lake Munksjön. They will then embark on a one-loop 90km (56 mile) bike course, which passes through Swedish scenery and picturesque lakeside villages. The three-loop 21.1 km (13.1 mile) run course leads athletes through the centre of Jönköping and around Lake Munksjön offering opportunities for spectators, family, and friends to cheer athletes on all the way to the finish line.
