Volunteering at Ironman World Championships Nice: Young Delegate Jan Steinmüller
Author: Jan Steinmüller
Volunteering during the Body Marking at the Ironman World Championships in Nice, France, on September 22 was a unique and inspiring experience.
It was an early start of the day, when the alarm went off at 4:00am in the middle of the night. A quick shower and double shot espresso later I was ready to start my shift at 5:00am at the Promenade de Anglais, where one and half hours later over 1,400 women would start their Ironman race day.
The Ironman is a triathlon long-distance triathlon consisting of three continuous parts: A 3.86km swim, 180km bike ride and 42.195km run. The event pushes participants to their physical and mental limits. I was volunteering at the Body Marking, which is pre-race ritual, that involves writing an athlete’s race number, on their body, typically on their arms, legs, or hands, using a permanent marker. This serves several purposes:
- Identification: It helps race officials, photographers, and spectators easily identify athletes during the race.
- Safety: In case of emergencies, it allows medics to quickly access important information about the athlete.
- Categorization: It distinguishes athletes by age group, or other classifications, especially important in larger races.
For me it was a special experience because the body marking process is often a moment of focus and excitement for athletes, as it signals the final step before the race begins. It was interesting seeing the different moods and levels of excitement of athletes right before the race. Engaging with the athletes, many of whom had trained for months or years to reach this point, gave me a deeper appreciation for their dedication and resilience. It was also a great opportunity to be part of a larger team working behind the scenes to make the event flow smoothly. The camaraderie among volunteers and athletes was uplifting, and it was rewarding to contribute to the athletes’ big day in even a small way. Overall, it was an unforgettable event and learning in different ways especially meeting people from so many different countries around the world.