USA Triathlon Hall of Fame Induction Set for Chicago

Triathletes and multisport enthusiasts are invited to reserve seats now to celebrate key contributors and top athletes throughout the history of the sport at the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame induction ceremony, set for Thursday, June 26 at the Navy Pier Ballroom in Chicago.

The following individuals comprise the sixth induction class of the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame and will be honored at next month's banquet:

•             Ironman pioneers John and Judy Collins, best known for creating the Ironman triathlon

•             Tom Warren, winner of the 1979 Ironman Hawaii who inspired a generation to participate in the sport

•             Mike Pigg, elite legend who dominated the Olympic-distance racing scene in the 1980s and '90s

•             Sister Madonna Buder, "The Iron Nun" with 12 age-group wins at Ironman World Championship

Current ITU star Javier Gomez of Spain, who is the 2013 ITU World Triathlon Series champion and London 2012 Olympic silver medalist, will serve as the keynote speaker. Tickets to this exclusive event, which sold out four of the past five years, are on sale now via Active.com.

Individual tickets are on sale for $75 and include access to a cocktail reception, dinner and the inductee presentation. Ten-seat corporate or sponsor tables also are available for $750. Information and registration questions should be directed to ellis.schieman@usatriathlon.org.

Tickets will be available until June 20 or until the 250-attendee limit is reached.

The USA Triathlon Hall of Fame was founded in 2008, and this year's class will bring the total number of inductees to 27. Visit usatriathlon.org/hof for more information on the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame.

The USA Triathlon Hall of Fame induction ceremony will kick off the inaugural ITU World Triathlon Chicago race weekend. One of just eight series events around the globe in 2014, Chicago will welcome 130 of the world's top Olympic-distance elite triathletes alongside such cities as Auckland, Cape Town, Yokohama, London, Hamburg, Stockholm and Edmonton.

In addition to the elite races, the event features top-flight Olympic- and sprint-distance age-group races, as well as two relay options, offering a field of 4,000 amateurs the chance to compete at the same epic venue as the world's best athletes. Visit chicago.triathlon.org for more information on the June 27-29 event.

About USA Triathlon: USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 races and connects with nearly 500,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches and race directors on the grassroots level, USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).