Spartan World Championship returns to Abu Dhabi; here are more details

Spartan, the global endurance sports and extreme wellness brand, has announced that the 2023 Spartan World Championship will return to Abu Dhabi for a third consecutive year.

The event, held in partnership with and hosted by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, will bring together the world’s best obstacle course racing athletes to take on a challenging new course from December 8–10.

The race is set to take place in Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba area for the second year.

Aref Hamad Al Awani, general secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: “We are proud to announce – once again – that Abu Dhabi will host the Spartan World Championship for the third consecutive year and second time in a row in the Al Wathba Desert, after the great successes achieved by the first and second editions.

“We promise everyone that the championship will continue its successes during the upcoming edition, through the sand dunes of Al Wathba desert, which in itself constitutes an obstacle, a barrier, and an interesting challenge for participants from all over the world.”

What Spartan athletes can expect this year

The toughest Spartan athletes, who have qualified throughout the racing season for the men’s and women’s individual world championship, will battle it out on Saturday, December 9.

The team world championship will be held on Sunday, December 10. Alongside the elite competition, members of the UAE and international community will also be able to participate in dedicated competition formats for the general public.

UAE residents keen to test themselves on the circuit can do so through the Open Heats.

The Open Beast (21km; 30 obstacles) will take place on Saturday, while the Open Super and Open Team Super (10km; 25 obstacles), Open Sprint (5km; 20 obstacles), and Kids Open (500m-2km; 5-20 obstacles) will be held on Sunday.

These will encourage novice Spartans to try the course on their own or with friends and family.

There are no qualification requirements, and anyone interested can sign up.

“We’re thrilled to return to Abu Dhabi for a third consecutive year for the Spartan World Championship. Crafting an entirely new course, we’re gearing up to deliver one of our most challenging experiences to date—seizing the title will demand nothing short of absolute dedication,” revealed Joe De Sena, Spartan’s founder and CEO.

He added, “Beyond the intense Elite competition, we recognise the significance of offering every Spartan the chance to conquer the very same World Championship course embraced by our elite contenders. Embarking on this journey with us in Abu Dhabi guarantees a transformative experience—one that unshackles your physical and mental capabilities.”

Past winners

In 2022, one of the greatest Spartan racers of all time, Lindsay Webster, took the first-place podium. The win — at a time of 1:12:49 — was not only a personal milestone for Webster, but she also made Spartan history with the most consecutive wins of all time (17). Sergei Perelygin, who has three Spartan Regional Championship titles to his name, returned with a vengeance to dethrone the reigning champion Ryan Atkins and take first place with a time of 1:03:47 on the 10K course.

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