Women in Tri UK offer evidence-based argument that performance-based allocation more accurately upholds the foundational values of triathlon: fairness, determination, and equal opportunity - than models based primarily on participation.
IRONMAN to review World Championship slot allocation model after concerns raised for amateur women
A performance-based analysis report from Women in Tri UK, a charity committed to bringing gender diversity to the sport, concludes that a participation-based slot allocation model for the IRONMAN World Championship would significantly disadvantage high-performing female amateur athletes. The analysis, based on the last 12 months’ IRONMANs showed that whereas women made up just 17% of starters the female athletes were way higher quality (as measured by % behind their AG #1).
The key finding from the report suggests that a woman is more than twice as likely as a man to finish near the front of her field (within 15% of their AG #1). Yet under participation-based slot allocation models (i.e. 17% / 83%), athletes of the same quality will be less likely to qualify for Kona if they are female.
The report defines “high performing AG athletes” as those finishing within 15% of the winner’s finishing time in their age group and states “In many races, women receive far fewer slots despite producing a greater share of top performances. The outcome is an [IMWC amateur] start list that does not reflect the true competitive landscape.”
“Based on this ‘high performing’ threshold, Women in Tri UK estimated a performance-based slot allocation across the 35 races, with a guaranteed slot for each AG winner in both genders. This results in an average of 35% of slots allocated to women globally, with individual races ranging from a minimum of 25% slots at IM Frankfurt to a high of 50%—equal numbers—at IM Texas and IM Taiwan.
The Women in Tri UK preamble when presenting the report to IRONMAN asserted “The top end of the women’s field is already comparably as good as the top of the men’s field. What the women’s field lacks is a large quantity of middle-of-the-pack athletes” and concludes: “Women in Tri UK advocates for an approach that recognises performance.
IRONMAN have confirmed its stated intent to “review its proposed slot allocation model” and that “as we return to our historic roots in Hawaii for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona we also value the constructive ideas and feedback” and “we have had very positive dialogue with Women in Tri UK . . . and look forward to continued discussions with them and others as we consider our final approach to 2026 slot allocation – along with other ideas that can help grow women’s participation in the sport and shape a fair, competitive World Championship that excites and inspires both current and future athletes.”
Extracted and precised from:
And here’s the report: