The 6^th VNG Ironman 70.3 Vietnam triathlon, the largest of its kind in Viet Nam, concluded in Da Nang on Sunday.

Athletes competed in the 21.1km running.

Themed ‘Embracing Challenges’, this year’s event attracted the participation of more than 2,500 domestic and foreign athletes. Especially, Vietnamese participants were nearly 1,100. This showed the strong development of the Vietnamese triathlon community, as well as the strong spirit and will of discovering one's limits through the growing Vietnamese sports.

The participating athletes competed in 1.9km swimming, 90km cycling and 21.1km running.

The triathlon started with a 1.9km open water swim at the Son Thuy Beach in Ngu Hanh Son District.

After finishing the swim competition, the athletes competed in a 2-loop 90km cycle race through major routes along beaches and resorts in the city.

Then, at the end of the journey was a 21km run passing through some important milestones and a dramatic ending at the Son Thuy Beach.

In the end, Michael Cassinides from Australia won the first prize in the men’s professional category with a time of 4mins 16.15secs.

Andy Wibowo, an India nationality, came in second place in a time of 4mins 19.57secs, whilst Golatat Kunaborimas from Thailand finished in third place in a time of 4mins 29.34secs.

In the women’s professional category, the top 3 finishers were Hanh Nguyen from Viet Nam, Pannapat Krarunpetch from Thailand, and Agnieszka Najnigier Pierzynowska from Poland.

VNG Ironman 70.3 Vietnam 2022 will reserve 70 slots for attending the 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in the US on October 28 and 29 this year, including 25 "Women For Tri" slots to encourage female athletes to join.

The triathlon’s organisers honoured and awarded prizes to professional and amateur athletes in recognition of their high achievements at the triathlon, as well as announced slots for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in 2022.

Athletes competing in the swimming competition

The joy of winning

Athletes competing in the running competition

Athletes get the overwhelming joy of finally crossing the finish line

Cyclists battling heavy rain in the road race

Athletes are seen competing in a 2-loop 90km cycle race through the coastal routes in Da Nang

An athlete trying to get ahead of the cycle race

Despite a very harsh competition, VNG Ironman 70.3 Vietnam triathlon attracted a large number of professional and amateur athletes around the world.

A foreign athlete participating in the 21.1km running event.

The moment of reaching the finish line of a Vietnamese athlete.

The joy of a foreign athlete when finishing the final line.

The organisers awarding prizes to athletes with high achievements at the competition.

Reporting by LE HUNG, KIM LIEN - Translating by M.DUNG