Posted: October 25, 2004

Triathlon: Bernhard, Cleveland to compete at 2004 Ironman Florida Triathlon

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla.-Five-time Ironman Switzerland champion Olivier Bernhard (Switzerland) and 2000 Ironman Florida champion Jamie Cleveland (Canada) will compete in the 2004 Ironman Florida Triathlon set to take place on Saturday, November 6 in Panama City Beach and surrounding Bay County.

Bernhard has been a dominant force at Ironman Switzerland throughout his career winning the event five of the last seven years, including the last three consecutively. Bernhard has also had top three finishes at Ironman Australia (2002), Ironman Florida (2001), Ironman Canada (2000) and Ironman New Zealand (1998 and 2000 and 2003).

Cleveland has won the lone Ironman title of his career in Panama City Beach, claiming the Ironman Florida title in 2000 with an overall time of eight hours, 37 minutes and 58 seconds. Cleveland also finished fourth overall at the 2002 Ironman Wisconsin Triathlon.

The duo joins an already strong pro men’s field at Ironman Florida which features 1999 Ironman Florida champion Lothar Leder (Germany), 2004 Subaru Ironman Canada champion Tom Evans (Canada) and two-time Ironman Wisconsin champion Dave Harju (Canada).

More than 2,000 athletes from around the U.S. and the world are expected to compete in Ironman Florida, which enters its sixth year in Panama City Beach.

Athletes will be competing for 100 qualifying spots to the 2005 Ironman World Championship held in October in Kona, Hawaii, as well as a $50,000 pro prize purse.

For more information on the Ironman Florida triathlon, log onto www.ironmanflorida.com.