Swimming portion of Ironman set to return to Chattanooga this weekend

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Athletes are set to return to the Tennessee River this weekend.

The Ironman 70.3 triathlon is set to be held this Sunday in Chattanooga.

The first leg of the race is a one point four mile swim in the Tennessee River from the north shore to Ross’s Landing.

Unfortunately, previous editions of the race have had their swim portions cancelled due to unsafe water conditions as the river flow rate was too high for swimmers and safety crews to be in the 

TVA River Forecast Center senior manager Darrell Guinn says that shouldn’t be a problem this year.

Guinn said, “We coordinate with the organizers every year and we do what we can to provide the flows that they’ve requested. A lot of times they want the lower flows that you know will not be a safety condition for the swimmers. It’s not going to be an issue this year. We’re forecasting those flows to be available and what they’ve been asking for.”

The swim portion of the race begins at 6:50 a.m. on Sunday morning.