UTMB fires livestream commentator Corrine Malcolm
The ultra-trail community is lamenting what it views as the latest misstep by UTMB/Ironman
Photo by:
Ryan Thrower
U.S. ultra-trail runner Corrine Malcolm said in an Instagram post Friday that she has been fired from her position as a live commentator for the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) race, which she has held for four years, and will not be on the mic for the 2024 edition, which starts Aug. 30. She says she was fired for being “too oustpoken.” (Malcolm has expressed criticism of Ironman, which became a minority partner with UTMB in 2021.)
“As of yesterday I’ve been informed that I can no longer be part of the commentary team that I’ve worked with for the last four years because I’m too outspoken,” Malcolm wrote. “And they’re not wrong, you’ll always know where I stand.”
Malcolm, a veteran ultrarunner who took third place at this year’s Cascade Crest 100 miler and who also commentates for Western States 100 (along with co-host Dylan Bowman), where she has twice finished in the top 10, stands her ground in the post, saying she will not be “quiet” and expressing solidarity with runners, as opposed to large race organizations like UTMB/Ironman.
Malcolm’s post attracted many supportive comments from ultrarunners including Lucy Bartholomew, Amelia Boone, Arden Young and four-time UTMB winner Kilian Jornet, who said, “This is so sad and wrong. Even if I probably had a slightly different vision of trail running than @utmbmontblanc, their founders and team were always open to discussing with everyone in the community, becoming the biggest promoter of trail running and its values. Sadly since the acquisition of UTMB by @ironmantri, the actions tell otherwise and it seems that trail running as an activity and its community is the last of their concerns. I really hope they listen to the community and change to become again a driver of the sport and its values.”
Luke Nelson, who scored a Fun Run at the 2021 Barkley Marathons, is another trail runner who has spoken out against the firing on social media. “This morning, with a mix of emotions, I want to make it clear that @utmbmontblanc will not be in my future,” Nelson writes. “I had a yearning to return and experience the full course (it was shortened the year I was there) but their recent actions against @garyrobbins and now the two people I consider the voice of UltraRunning in this livestream era of our sport have made it very clear that it is time for me to publicly speak out that these actions are not palatable. Apparently, @corrinemalcolm was too outspoken to continue as the commentator for the UTMB races. That organization is trying to take action to silence critique, and that is something I chose not to tolerate.”
It’s the second time in recent weeks that UTMB/Ironman has drawn the ire of trail runners; in late October, it announced a new ultra-trail race in Whistler, B.C., at the same time of year as the former Whistler Alpine Meadows (which announced its closure earlier this year). WAM founder Gary Robbins claims his organization, Coast Mountain Trail Running, was forced out by resort operator Vail, clearing the way for a new deal between Vail and UTMB, though UTMB denies there was any discussion of a new UTMB race in Whistler until after WAM’s departure.
📢ANNOUNCEMENT📢
Ownership of the Whistler Half Marathon will transfer to Coast Mountain Trail Running following the 2024 edition of the event! Full press release in the pics.
Registration for the 2024 edition opens on New Year's Day.
Details: https://t.co/Qu1MfLwbF1 pic.twitter.com/KbbGd5KcPc— Coast Mtn Trail Running (@CoastMtnTrail) December 1, 2023
On Friday, Robbins announced that Coast Mountain Trail Running will take over ownership of the Whistler Half Marathon after the 2024 edition, scheduled for June 2.
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