Ironman Triathlon to Offer Prize Money

Prize money will be offered in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship for the first time this year, race chairman Valerie Silk announced.

An anonymous donation will allow more than $100,000 in prize money and cash bonuses to be awarded in the Oct. 18 race, she said.

The male and female winners each will receive $12,000, while second and third place will get $9,000 and $6,000 each, respectively. Prize money will be awarded to the top 15 men and the top 10 women.

The decision to award cash prizes was made “after lengthy consideration and a generous donation toward the purse and bonus money,” Silk said.

In the past Silk had been adamantly opposed to awarding prize money, saying any extra money would be used to improve the quality of the race.