The last Ironman in Penticton will be held this summer

Penticton is losing the Ironman Triathlon to Ottawa, according to Ironman Canada. Home to the iconic full-distance Ironman triathlon since 1983, Penticton will be hosting the major sports event for the last time this August. “We are grateful for the wonderful partners that we have in Penticton for hosting and helping to build the legacy of Ironman Canada triathlon into one of our longest-running and most popular events,” Keats McGonigal of the Ironman Group said in a media release issued today, July 9. Penticton has been hosting this event for over 30 years off and on, and Ironman said the time has come to move to a new city. Ottawa will be the host city of the 2025 event. “All athletes know, there’s a time to say goodbye and find new challenges,” Penticton Mayor Bloomfield said in a media release. “We will honour the legacy of the athletes and volunteers who have made this an iconic event since the inaugural event in 1983 and begin writing a new chapter in our city’s proud sporting history.” Penticton was the first location in North America, and the third location outside of Hawaii, to hold the Ironman race making the location important for the Okanagan. Bloomfield, though disappointed in the move and contract cancellation, is still determined to make this final event memorable and welcoming to all athletes. “What makes our community a destination for major events is not only our unique geography but the people who rally to provide an unmatched atmosphere. The Penticton spirit has made this event and many others memorable over the years,” Bloomfield said. To contact a reporter for this story, email Bailey Zimmer mailto:bzimmer@infonews.ca  or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .