Eight athletes, from Japan to the United States, began their Ultraman Canada journeys in the South Okanagan on Friday morning (July 25).
Participants started with the 10-kilometre swim portion of the event at Manitou Park Beach in Naramata.
The race will also feature a 420-kilometre bike ride through the region on Saturday and an 84.4-kilometre run on Sunday, ending at Dale Meadows Sports Field in Summerland.
Athletes competing in this year's event include:
鈥� Barry Berg, 58 (Canada)
鈥� Rob Gibson, 62 (Canada)
鈥� Ramiro Gutierrez Piedra, 58 (Mexico)
鈥� Jenny Hayes, 43 (United States)
鈥� Naomichi Ide, 42 (Japan)
鈥� Fred Lambright, 55 (Canada)
鈥� Miku Ujita, 26 (Japan)
鈥� Lydia Walter, 30 (United States)
Among those not competing is Penticton's Jen Annett, who won Ultraman Canada in her hometown last summer.
She later went on to become the first woman to claim top spot at the 2024 Ultraman World Championships, held in Hawaii in December 2024.
Along with winning Ultraman gold in her hometown and south of the border, Annett also competed in the final edition of Penticton's Ironman last August.
