Lew Friedland And Peter Reid To Be Inducted Into Ironman Hall Of Fame

Ironman, a Wanda Sports Holding company, announced today that former Ironman President Lew Friedland and Canadian triathlon great Peter Reid will be inducted into the Ironman Hall of Fame.

The ceremony will be held on October 5th during race week at the 2016 Ironman World Championship triathlon, in Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i.

“We are grateful for the contributions both Lew and Peter have made to Ironman. They deserve to join the ranks of Ironman’s elite,” said Andrew Messick, Chief Executive Officer of Ironman. “Lew’s leadership and passion for Ironman was pivotal in creating a platform for international growth. His fingerprints can be seen throughout the company and our success as we continue to grow. Peter’s determination and will to win was legendary. He has helped to show that Ironman success is as much mental as it is physical.”

Lew Friedland was captivated by Ironman at the Ironman World Championship in 1989, when he watched the “Iron War” between Mark Allen and Dave Scott. After working with Ironman in various capacities, Friedland took over as President, leading the company from 1998 until 2004. During this time he played an integral role in both domestic and international growth of the company. Historic and popular events such as Ironman Lake Placid, Ironman Coeur d’Alene, Ironman Arizona and Ironman 70.3 Oceanside were all launched during Friedland’s tenure, in addition to other favorites in South Africa, the United Kingdom, France, Malaysia and Korea.

“It is an honor to be recognized and inducted into the Ironman Hall of Fame,” said Lew Friedland. “Being part of building Ironman into the worldwide sport leader that it has become is one of the highlights of my business career. Having a spot in the Hall of Fame with such elite company is truly humbling.”

Peter Reid, originally from Quebec, Canada, boasts a resume with ten Ironman triathlon wins during his career as a professional triathlete. He won his first Ironman World Championship in 1998, later capturing two more Ironman World Championship titles in 2000 and 2003. In all, Reid finished in the top three at the Ironman World Championship an impressive seven times during the course of his professional racing career. Reid was inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, the Canada Sports Hall of Fame in 2011, the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2013 and, most recently, the Triathlon Canada Hall of Fame this past August.

“To be inducted into the Ironman Hall of Fame is by far the biggest surprise and thrill of my career,” said Peter Reid. “I never thought of myself as a talented athlete but knew that I was never afraid to put in the work, and this amazing honour proves that hard work does pay off and was noticed by the triathlon community. To be inducted while surrounded by my peers who understand what Ironman means is incredible, and I am privileged to join the company of highly esteemed individuals that I admire and continue to respect so much.”

Founded in 1993, the Ironman Hall of Fame was created to honor individuals, like Friedland and Reid, who have made outstanding contributions to the growth of the world’s most famous endurance race series.

Friedland and Reid join a prestigious list of remarkable individuals honoured not only for incredible athletic achievements, but also for what they have given to the sport of triathlon and Ironman.

Ironman Hall of Fame

For more information about the Ironman Hall of Fame and its members, visit www.ironman.com/hof.