This weekend, the coastal city of Marbella, Spain, will host the 2025 Ironman 70.3 World Championship – marking the first time the event takes place on Spanish soil. The field is packed with inspiring stories, legendary athletes, and everyday competitors.
Stories of Determination and Triumph
Among the Age Group athletes lining up in Marbella are individuals whose journeys transcend sport.
Ryan Briscoe (Australia/USA) – A name once synonymous with motorsports, Briscoe brings his competitive drive from the racetrack to triathlon. The former IndyCar and endurance racing star, with wins including the 2020 24 Hours of Daytona, turned his lifelong passion for endurance into triathlon success. After running the Boston Marathon earlier this year, Briscoe now fulfills another dream – racing at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship.
Gabriel Dias Aguilera Fernandes (Brazil) – For Gabriel, every race is for his four-year-old son Raphael, born with myelomeningocele, a form of spina bifida. Competing for his son’s inspiration, Gabriel turns love and purpose into power, proving that limits can become new beginnings.
Reyes Estévez López (Spain) – A three-time Olympian and European 1500m champion, Estévez continues to defy age. At 48, he holds the Spanish M45 marathon record (2:16:26) and has now turned his focus to triathlon. Known for his blazing run speed, he’s ready to shine again – this time in front of a home crowd.
Katie Hamister (USA) – After a devastating 2019 accident left doctors doubting she’d ever run again, Hamister refused to accept that fate. Through sheer willpower and advocacy for road safety, she rebuilt her body and spirit, proving that mindset is the ultimate endurance weapon.
Corey Hawes (USA) – Once told he would never lift more than 50 lbs or lead an active life following a car accident at 17, Hawes rewrote his story through triathlon. With more than 20 Ironman and Ironman 70.3 finishes, he returns to the world stage as a model of perseverance.
Chloee Hurst (USA) – Diagnosed with cancer at 13 and left with reduced lung capacity, Hurst’s determination to race in Marbella is a statement of courage – that heart and attitude can overcome any physical limit.
Javier Mérida (Spain) – A Spanish para-triathlon pioneer, Mérida lost his leg in a traffic accident but went on to make history: crossing the English Channel and completing the “Triple Crown” of open-water swimming. A five-time Ironman finisher, Mérida continues to inspire athletes of all abilities.
Lisa Mesch (Germany) – From handball player to brain tumor survivor, Mesch’s comeback is nothing short of miraculous. After paralysis and vision challenges, she returned to competition, finishing her first Ironman 70.3 this year. Her journey to Marbella is another powerful reminder that resilience knows no limits.
Deborah Maldonado Rivera (Puerto Rico) – Founder of Kilómetros de Cambio, Deborah uses sport as a vehicle for change, raising awareness and funds to support survivors of domestic violence. Every mile she races stands for hope, safety, and empowerment.
Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium) – The Olympic cycling champion and 2016 Paris–Roubaix winner has found a new passion post-retirement. After age-group podium finishes at Ironman 70.3 Knokke-Heist and Nice, Van Avermaet is ready to tackle Marbella’s course – proving that champions never stop competing.
Field Facts and Championship Highlights
- Average age of athletes: 42
- Youngest athletes: Nicole Chau (18, Hong Kong) and Albert Fernandez (18, Mexico)
- Oldest athletes: Dexter Yeats (80, USA) and Helmut Schicketanz (83, Germany)
- Birthday racers: 20 athletes (4 women, 16 men) will celebrate their birthday on race day
- Countries represented: 114, led by the USA, Germany, France, the UK, and Canada
- U.S. representation: 49 states — only North Dakota missing — with California leading the count (185 athletes)
- Returning Age Group Champions: 12 from the 2024 Taupō, New Zealand championship, including legends like Michellie Jones (Australia) and Olivier Godart (France)