The swimming leg of the Ironman race in Tallinn will be held on Lake Raku for the first time
The swimming leg of the Ironman competition in Tallinn will be held next week for the first time on Lake Raku, located on the southern outskirts of the Estonian capital. Organizers hope that once the area has been developed, Tallinn will be able to host the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in 2028, according to ERR News.
Lake Raku is an artificial body of water formed as a result of mining operations. Its size allows for a full-distance Ironman swim—3.8 kilometers. For several years, organizers have been searching for an alternative location near Tallinn, as Lake Harku and Stroomi Beach have repeatedly faced water quality issues.
Ain-Alar Juhanson, head of Ironman Tallinn, stated that about a month before the competition, swimming in Harku and at Stroome was not recommended due to the results of water tests. At the same time, he said, a sample from Lake Raku showed that the water was perfectly clean.
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The lake area officially has the status of a quarry, so holding the swim requires special permission from the operator, Silikaat Grupp. The company will suspend operations for the duration of the competition so that a transit zone for 5,000 athletes can be set up on the quarry road between stages.
The organizers describe the current format of the competition on Lake Raku as temporary. To create a permanent recreational area, the state, as the landowner, must transfer the plot to the city. The Estonian Land Board noted that opening the shoreline requires extensive preparatory work, approval from several agencies, and restoration of the shoreline by the quarry’s lessee.
Tallinn city authorities also want to create a public recreation area near the lake. Currently, only dogs are officially allowed to swim there. Tallinn was previously considered a contender to host the Ironman 70.3 World Championship but lost out to Marbella due to the lack of a suitable swimming location. This year’s Ironman competition in Tallinn is scheduled for August 22–23.
