The Ironman web site insisted that registration for the World Championship 70.3 race was to be **“By Qualification Only.” **It went on to state **“all athletes must qualify by earning a slot at one of our global qualifying races.” **This turned out to be plainly false. I beat four individuals at the Florida Ironman 70.3 (one by 55 minutes) who were “awarded” slots for the Clearwater race even though they did NOT qualify at ANY qualifying race. Three of these individuals told me they were permitted to race because they knew someone who was able to secure a slot. 50 slots were also given to the St. Pete Mad Dogs triathlon club to allocate as the club saw fit. I’m sure many other slots were “awarded” to individuals who knew someone at the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), which is headquartered in Pinellas County, Florida (where the race was held). In fact, in looking at the results, you’ll see that 32 of the last 100 finishers were from Florida - many from the Tampa Bay area. This is a disproportionately high number for a race with approximately 19 qualifying races - only one of which is in Florida. This further suggests that slots were given to locals who knew someone.
This is a fraud on every individual who signed up for one of the “qualifying” races expecting that Ironman meant it, when it stated, **“all athletes must qualify by earning a slot at one of our global qualifying races.” **When I contacted the WTC about this I was told, “WTC as a private corporation reserves the absolute right and discretion to determine who it invites to participate in its events.”
As one of the 50 St.Pete Mad Dogs members who won a lottery spot to the race, let me be the first to apologize to you for taking up a spot in the race and finishing in the back of the pack. I’m sorry if you beat me by 55 minutes…I’ll try not to let it happen again.
Dude, it’s a corporation. A corporation does things that make it money. If that means giving sponsors (Tri Clubs) free entries, and it saves them cash, then so be it.
Kona & Boston are the same way. It’s the way of the world.
“WTC as a private corporation reserves the absolute right and discretion to determine who it invites to participate in its events.”
And there’s your answer.
Also, if you go to their site, they have this information (which says the above and showed they DID play by their own rules):
**Do I have to qualify to compete in the event? **
Depending upon the IRONMAN event, competitors can gain entry by qualifying for a race by past performance, submitting a timely application in “open” events or winning a spot through a lottery process. WTC always reserves the right and discretion to permit other participants in its IRONMAN events.
“WTC as a private corporation reserves the absolute right and discretion to determine who it invites to participate in its events.”
That pretty much sums it it up. It’s their race, their rules. Get over it.
You sound very frustrated at Ironman/WTC. I also sense a tinge of elitism in your post (YOU qualified…what the hell are all these wannabee Florida locals doing in YOUR race…).
Anyway, rather than getting all pissed off about the situation, might I suggest you take your entry fee elsewhere to non-WTC/IM races? Or better yet, start your own “imsparticus-man” race series and invite (or not invite) anyone you want…
If they didn’t give slots away they would not have had a sold out race. Not everyone who did race at a qualifying 70.3 event wanted to go to the Clearwater race so they were left with all these extra spots.
Boo who… Life is not fair. If thats news to you then stick you head back in the sand and you’ll feel better. By the way tons of people are awarded slots in kona too.
I believe the lottery business was ackowledged well up front, maybe even before the first race. In many early qualifying races, a lot of slots went begging. Eagleman, for instance, the last slot went down to 61st place in the AG (and I am an old fart, there aren’t that many more people in the age group). Ralphs was a similar situation, as I recall.
I don’t really get your point, everyone else seemed to be aware that as a first year event, it would not likely be populated by only highly qualified individuals. To boot, the Kona race has a lottery, and ear marked slots as well. Why call out 70.3, but not Kona in the same post?
As far as fraud on every individual who signed up, count me out of your tally. There is nothing new in your post, and I fully understood what I was signing up for at the time.
To the original poster, I would encourage you to consider altering your view on whether or not this race is actually a “championship” or not.
It’s like calling Kona the championship race. If you come in 3rd or 4th at a qualifying event and “qualify for Kona”, what is there to compete for in Kona? 3rd or 4th place, or just be a AG participant? Then take all the roll downs, the lottery, the mandatory movie star, the community fund purchasers, the free slots they give, etc. etc. Clearwater a “championship” race? Wow, that is funny.
Like everyone said before, If the race was full maybe your argument would be valid but I don’t think any of the races had all their slots taken up so stop crying over such a petty non issue unless you want to turn up to races with no one in it. WTC can do what ever they want, and remember they need people to race to make enough money cause with out the money there would be no races. Your attitude is missing what I believe is the greatest thing about our sport mainly Ironman but 70.3 and that is if its Norman or the person who finishes at mid night they are all an Ironman and as far as I know there is no other sport in the world that can say that. So wake up!
Right on dude. Then he could have about as many qualifiers as Peter Brady’s birthday party.
Imsparticus needs to sign up for all non M-Dot and 70.3 events then find something wrong with those events. Stay away from M-Dot/70.3 races as they obviously do not make him happy.
“WTC as a private corporation reserves the absolute right and discretion to determine who it invites to participate in its events.”
This has been the WTC’s gig for years. It always surprises me when people are suprised and shocked by this. It’s a private business and they can let in, sign up, whatever, whoever they want. It’s not really a World Championship. In fairness, they are really stretching it, if that’s what they are calling the Clearwater event or even Ironman Hawaii. A real World Championship does not hold a spot or a lane, or a number, for a favourite sponsor, or people who’s names have been drawn from a hat!, or a friend of a friend, or people who paid a ton of money or who where able to click a mouse and fill in their cradit card number fastest on-line. No, a REAL World Championship involves a very rigourous and thourough qualification process whereby you end up with only the absolute best, of the best on the starting line. It’s a bit elitist and rarified, but that’s what a real World Championship is.
Thats kind of true but Getting to ITU worlds isn’t much harder and at the end of the day it’s who can afford to go and thats the same with Ironman. Hawaii Deserves to be called the world championship because the race it’s self is the hardest Ironman in the world.
Steve, great post and I could not agree with your argument more. Bottom line, it’s WTC/IMNA (now NA Sports) gigs and until people stop signing up for their races (inlcuding Ironman Louisville and 70.3 branded/M-Dot) they will continue to dominate. Some, like me love thier races and find little to bicker with. Others will find somethng wrong with Ironman Hawaii down to their local club sprint race or local 5k. Regretably, their is a small, but VERY vocal group who spew negativity.
Yes, some will call their opinions about this fact when in fact they are just opinions, which all are entitled to. Luckily, for us who enjoy IMNA/WTC and think they do a great job they will continue to “rock & roll”.
The most silly part of this whole debate is that those whining and moaning can all find equity investors and start a true World Championship with no one racing but qualifiers, Powerbars in every race bag, and an unlimted race refund/transfer policy. I wonder why these complete fools, IMHO, never ever get off their a*** and actually do such a thing.
I know, b/c it is so easy to sit on your a** and whine and complain rather than change the system they so despise.
