USA Triathlon and Ironman Partner Again : trifuel.com

USA Triathlon and Ironman Partner Again

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 27, 2006) - USA Triathlon (USAT) CEO Skip Gilbert and World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) President and CEO Ben Fertic met last week to resolve the issues that had separated these two organizations for the majority of 2005.

Based on the International Triathlon Union �Athlete�s First� creed which is relevant to all those associated with the sport of triathlon, WTC and USAT have committed to forge a long-term partnership reigniting their collective energy on growth of the sport, their respective brands, and their relationship with the multi-sport athlete. Beginning in May, all WTC-affiliated races will receive a USAT sanction.

�We are pleased that a resolution has been reached and we are excited to begin moving forward as a unified front and providing our athletes the best services possible,� said Fertic.

For the tens of thousands of athletes who compete in USAT and WTC races, this agreement could not have happened quickly enough. While WTC sanctioning won�t officially begin until May, USAT will support the athlete community by providing rankings for all 2006 WTC races. USAT will soon release further information about annual memberships and the integration into the Ironman events.

�It has been a difficult year for the triathlon community, and bringing two of the most influential organizations back together again is a great way to start the 2006 racing season,� said Gilbert. �WTC and USAT can now refocus solely on growing the sport and building programs to support our athletes.�

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World Triathlon Corporation, owners and organizers of Ironman, is a Florida-based company recognized for athletic excellence, performance and quality products. With the addition of the Ironman 70.3 Series, Ironman now has more than 35 qualifying events worldwide. Millions may remember moments in Ironman history such as Julie Moss' crawl to the finish line in 1982, which was showcased on ABC's Wide World of Sports. Each year, more than 40,000 athletes compete for slots in the Ford Ironman World Championship held every October in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and the Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3 held every November in Clearwater, Fla.

USA Triathlon is the national governing body for triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 1,800 races and connects with more than 60,000 members each year, making it the largest multi-sport organization in the world. For more information on this and other stories related to USA Triathlon, please contact Tim Yount at 719-597-9090, ext. 131 or at tim.yount@USATriathlon.org. Please visit USA Triathlon�s web site at www.usatriathlon.org. For more information on Ironman, visit www.ironmanlive.com. For media-related inquiries, contact Blair LaHaye at blair@ironmanlive.com or at 727-942-4767 x207