The Ironman 70.3 series culminates each year with a World Championship competition, for which competitors qualify during the 70.3 series in the 12 months prior to the championship race.
[9] The oldest half-iron-distance race, though not under the WTC umbrella at the time, is the Superfrog Triathlon, which began in 1979.
[10][11] The number of qualification events within the 70.3 series has grown since its inception, growing to match the popularity of the sport and interest in the distance.
[13] Due to the lack of course certification for half-iron distance races, there is no official world record for 70.3 events.
The fastest times to complete a half-iron distance race for men and women were both set at the 2019 Ironman 70.3 Bahrain by Kristian Blummenfelt and Holly Lawrence.