Tyler Butterfield, Bermuda’s professional triathlete, will compete along with his wife Nikki in a star-studded field including at least nine former and current world champions in the $500,000 Challenge Bahrain Half-Ironman in December.

The prize money has attracted the world’s elite long-distance triathletes to the new event with the Butterfields also set to compete in the December 6 event which has one of the most impressive fields over the half distance.

Hundreds of age group athletes will race along side the biggest names in triathlon on one of the fastest and most diverse courses on the international circuit.

The battle for the world’s largest prize purse over the half distance has attracted the best long-distance triathletes as well as some well-known individuals from short-course racing who will make their long-distance debuts.

Ahead of the Challenge Bahrain, Tyler will compete in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii on October 11 while Nikki will return to her homeland for the Australia Pro Championships.The event will take place in Western Australia on November 9.

After that the pair will line up against past and current world champions in Bahrain, including Pete Jacobs, Mirinda Carfrae and Chris McCormack of Australia, Leanda Cave, Julie Dibens and Catriona Morrison of Great Britain, Terenzo Bozzone of New Zealand and Spain’s Eneko Llanos. There are also four Olympic medallists, including Jan Frodeno of Germany, Bevan Docherty of New Zealand and Lisa Norden of Sweden as well as Commonwealth Games gold medallist Brad Kahlefeldt of Australia.

Among the world-class athletes making their long-course debuts will be the Glasgow Commonwealth Games gold medallist Joe Stimpson, of Great Britain, and current Xterra World champion Nicky Samuels from New Zealand and Olympic bronze medallist Erin Densham of Australia.

“We are honoured to host each and every professional triathlete to the Kingdom of Bahrain to participate in Challenge Bahrain, an event we are holding very dear in our hearts,” said Dr Saqer Al Khalifa, the president of the Bahrain Triathlon Association.

“Having such a great line-up will most certainly bring us closer to our goals, to raise awareness of the importance and significance of having sports become an integral part of a person’s life in all global societies.”