Belgian triathlete and reigning Ironman 70.3 World Champion Jelle Geens will make his Full Distance Ironman debut in 2026, with Ironman Texas confirmed as his first appearance over the long distance. While Geens already announced late last year that he intended to step up to the classic Ironman, the choice of Texas now makes one thing clear: he is targeting immediate qualification for the Ironman World Championship in Kona.
Geens had initially been undecided between Ironman Texas and Ironman South Africa, but ultimately opted for the American race. His ambitions are unmistakably bold. Not only does he hope to secure a Kona slot in Texas, he has also set his sights on winning the Ironman World Championship itself – in what would be his debut over the distance.
As if that challenge weren’t enough, Geens is also aiming to make history by becoming the first athlete ever to win the Ironman 70.3 World Championship three times in a row. That ambition creates a demanding double focus, with the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Nice scheduled for 13 September, followed by the Ironman World Championship in Kona on 10 October – less than a month apart, provided he qualifies.
Geens will kick off his 2026 season on 22 March at Ironman 70.3 Geelong. While he remains cautious about predicting outright success at the Ironman World Championship, he has made it clear that his career from this point forward will be fully geared toward excelling at the Ironman distance.
