USA Triathlon to Bring ‘Legacy Triathlon’ held annually in Long Beach

USA Triathlon announced plans for the Legacy Triathlon, a new event to be held in Long Beach, California, starting July 20, 2019. The race will be held at Alamitos Beach, proposed site of the triathlon competitions for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“We are excited to welcome USA Triathlon to Long Beach,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “Today, we marked the beginning of a great partnership that will lead up to the 2028 Olympic Games, which is going to be a historical moment for our city.”

USA Triathlon CEO Rocky Harris was joined by Rex Richardson, Vice Mayor of the City of Long Beach; Barry Siff, International Triathlon Union (ITU) Executive Board Member and USA Triathlon Board of Directors President; and Ben Kanute, 2016 U.S. Olympic triathlete, at the press conference.

The Legacy Triathlon will begin in 2019 as an age-group race with a cap of 750 athletes. Participants will cover a sprint-distance course featuring a 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike and five-kilometer run. Registration is now open and the public can register at thelegacytriathlon.com. No qualification is required.

“As the first National Governing Body in the U.S. Olympic family to bring a new annual event to the Los Angeles footprint as part of the lead-up to 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, USA Triathlon is building its legacy before, rather than after, the Games,” Harris said. “Starting today, we are proudly giving back to the local multisport community in Southern California — the birthplace of triathlon — and building the foundation of what will become an international destination race for years to come.”

The event will eventually expand into a two-day multisport festival that includes both amateur and elite racing. Plans are for the elite component to begin as an ITU Triathlon World Cup and ultimately become a stop of the ITU World Triathlon Series — the highest level of elite ITU competition — in the lead-up to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The USA Triathlon Foundation has pledged a total of $100,000 ($10,000 per year through 2028) to support local community initiatives in conjunction with the Legacy Triathlon.

“When plans for the Legacy Triathlon were first put into place, we knew it needed to be more than just a race,” said Dave Deschenes, Executive Director of the USA Triathlon Foundation. “We saw an opportunity to give back to the Long Beach and Los Angeles triathlon communities and build a tangible legacy for years to come. This grant funding will support local organizations that provide multisport resources to youth, athletes with disabilities and Olympic dreamers — the USA Triathlon Foundation’s three focus areas.”

The long-term vision is to build this event into a multi-day festival that includes both age-group and elite racing starting as an ITU Triathlon World Cup and ultimately becoming a stop of the ITU World Triathlon Series, the highest level of elite ITU racing.

As the Legacy Triathlon grows, USA Triathlon plans to add components such as open-water swimming and running races (and possibly other summer Olympic sports like beach volleyball), community outreach activities, youth-focused events and live entertainment. Sign up today to be a part of the legacy.

For more information about the Legacy Triathlon, visit thelegacytriathlon.com