On the eve of Ironman Hawaii, it's been announced that Chris McCormack has penned a 10-year partnership with the Challenge Family.
The partnership will see McCormack acting both as an ambassador for the long-distance triathlon race series and becoming an integral part of the Challenge Family development as it enters its most significant growth phase in the history of the organisation.
The family-owned Challenge series has grown from the iconic Challenge Roth, which McCormack won four times from 2004 to 2007, to feature 12 long distance races and triathlon festivals over three continents. Challenge Roth itself is now the world’s largest long distance triathlon with over 5,000 competitors.
Following on from its long awaited entry into the North American market with Challenge Penticton this year, Challenge Family will look to expand its presence in Europe, North America and Australasia over the next 12 months as well as well introduce new markets to the Challenge race experience.
The partnership with McCormack will play a key role in this development as Macca the athlete and Macca the brand become integrally linked with Challenge to deliver a new standard in long-distance triathlon.
“I’m excited about this next phase in my career,” said McCormack. “I love what Challenge do; I love their DNA and core values which exactly echo my hopes for the future of the sport.
“My vision is to grow Challenge and the Macca brand inline with the things we hold valuable in this sport. Embracing its history, the lifestyle and the people who participate, family involvement and activity, health and the desire to play and have fun in multisport. I intend to hold true to our focus on quality and persistence and staying true to our vision.”
Challenge Family CEO, Felix Walchshöfer, said he was delighted both personally and professionally to build on a partnership with McCormack that started 10 years ago at Challenge Roth. “Macca first raced with us in Roth in that unforgettable year (2003) that saw him racing to the wire with Lothar Leder. He didn’t win that race but he came back and won the next four! During that time I got to know him, not just as an incredible athlete but also as an outstanding ambassador for our sport. To have him as a true member of the Challenge Family, doing so many of our races and helping the brand grow in new and emerging markets is a massive step forward for the Challenge Family as a whole."
As well as racing at a number of Challenge Family events, McCormack will also play a high profile role through Challenge Family’s social media channels, providing Challenge athletes with the opportunity to communicate with him directly, learning race specific tips, training advice and tricks of the trade from the best. He will also sit on two key Challenge advisory boards dedicated to ensuring a premium athlete race experience as well as take part in events with meet-and-greet at the expos and welcoming athletes across the finish line.
Further details of this partnership will be released over the next few months, including McCormack’s race schedule. For further information visit www.challenge-family.com or www.chrismccormack.com.
