What was the reason he stopped during the run in Copenhagen?

He most definitely should get a wild card slot. IRONMAN should have offered both him and Matt Russell Wild Card slots, rather than having them push the limits and chase the Kona points around the globe.

Maybe they still will, it's not too late!

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-Brad Williams
Website | Twitter: @BW_Tri |Instagram: @BW_Tri | Strava | Co-Founder & Coach at: KIS Coaching
Partnered with: Zoot Sports | Precision Fuel &Hydration | ISM

Yes absolutely. If he wants it.

I don't understand why he should even have to qualify. At some level of performance, (one he certainly has reached in his career), guys like that should just get in automatically. Good for him, good for the event, good for the fans.

I saw him pass by on the bike coming out of T1 and I was disappointed he didn't finish..on the race blog they said he looked pretty defeated after he was passed on the bike and couldn't come back and then he progressively faded from there. Of course I am not as disappointed as him. I REALLY wanted to see him do it. :((((((

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"see the world as it is not as you want it to be"

Yes, but they are giving it to Ashley

I would generalize it and say that they should have 2-4 “compassion” or “selection” spots, of which an athlete could apply under certain clearly laid out criteria.

I think you could argue that both Matt and Tim should meet the criteria to toe the start line if it was reasonable and laid out clearly.

Maurice

Is day 50 in Kona and if so, does everyone have to do deadlifts and squats every mile aid station?

I wish he would

Yes

They give out wildcards?

When and how was/is this decided?

Are there any parameters or can they (WTC?) just dish one out to anyone?

If so, for the sake of what happened to them in the race and before last year I believe they should be given the privilege to race.

Depends if Tim wants a wildcard slot, if so then yes.

Im a bit unfamiliar with this though, I take it he'd be racing as a pro?

Hmm my heart says yes, but it would start a myriad of issues sadly. Who decides? What are the criteria? Should all women comming back from pregnancy get a spot this way too etc?

But yeah i really sucks to see him fade and you know he would rock it without that stupid hit.

Matt Russell finished 3rd at IMMT. He currently sits 56th in the men's pro rankings. The commentators at the IMMT video feed said that Matt "should" be in now.

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If God invented marathons to keep people from doing anything more stupid, the triathlon must've taken him by surprise. -PZ Pearce

According to TriRating, Tim Don is first to miss out, and Matt Russell is 2nd to miss out..........

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-Brad Williams
Website | Twitter: @BW_Tri |Instagram: @BW_Tri | Strava | Co-Founder & Coach at: KIS Coaching
Partnered with: Zoot Sports | Precision Fuel &Hydration | ISM

Rude and sexist....;)

Not sure how to make this pink.

I don't know that Tim would even accept it. From what I've seen/heard out of him and Matt Russell is that they know it's a long path, but it's going to be more rewarding to earn it and truly be back rather than be given a bye back.

I'm going no because I think it turns this into a sideshow that Tim and Matt don't want to be. They want to be competitors

I really like Tim Don, but I don't think the WTC should hand out a wildcard to Tim. If he's not "fully" recovered (as per both results), is it doing him any favor to bring him to the pressure of Kona? I know he's no spring chicken, that it might be his last or second to last chance, but I'd rather see him on the right path and take a chance for next year.

As for Matt Russell, tough call... He clearly performed yesterday. I'd rather see an outlier in KPR give up his spot for Russell instead. While we always claim anything can happen in Kona, history tends to show otherwise (AKA, dark horses are rarely factors).

If any of the 2 would accept it is a different question. The sideshow effect would have been much less if these 2 guys would have gotten those tickets right after last years race. But the gesture could have been made by Ironman, acceptance would be the athlete choice to be made. Tim Don doesn't have too many years left in the tank as a pro I think, so I think just he deserves a good race at Kona. Without the need to try to qualify he might more fit for Kona with just solid training blocks instead of trying to do 2 IM's to get enough points.

Jeroen

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Owner at TRIPRO, The Netherlands

If that's true, I find it disgusting!

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Paulo Matos

No. And I doubt he wants it. The guy is a freaking beast. So is Matt Russel. “Give” them a spot? Forget that.

Now if they want to make a few bucks parading around and creating a storyline for NBC, I wouldn’t begrudge. But that is all it would be.

Surprised it took someone so long to mention this.

I kinda feel more so for Matt Russell, as it actually happened during the race; on their 'watch' so to speak.

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29 years and counting

So you think Norman Stadler, for example, should still get a spot with no results required? You'd rather him be in the race than the guy who EARNED his spot? Or should he get a spot when a woman doesn't get a spot?