Ironman 70.3 Qualifying Slots

This year (2012), more than 100,000 triathletes will compete in 37 Ironman events across the globe, many of them hoping to earn one of an estimated 2,150 coveted Ironman Kona Triathlon World Championship Slots. Qualify for Kona (or win the lottery) and you earn the right to race with the best triathletes in the world. We've conducted extensive research to assemble what is perhaps the only comprehensive listing of estimated Kona qualifying slots on the web.

35 Qualifying slots for the 2021 IRONMAN® 70.3® World Championships in St. George, Utah are up for grabs at IRONMAN 70.3 Bintan. The IRONMAN 70.3 Bintan is one of the first qualifying races in the Asia Pacific region. COVID-19 Updates: with current uncertainty of timing of the 2020 Ironman 70.3 World Championship and the large number of Ironman 70.3 races impacted by the virus, dates and slot allocations are subject to change. At present many listed races are in need of updating. Ironman 70.3 Boise, Ironman 70.3 Kansas and Ironman 70.3 Syracuse, all held in June, will feature significantly greater numbers of age-group qualifying slots for the Ironman World Championship 70.3 event, to be held at Lake Las Vegas on Sept. George 70.3 North American championships will race on May 1, 2021, and will offer 100 qualifying slots and 50 Women For Tri slots to the 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in St.

Want to go to Kona? Here's where you want to start. Be aware that WTC, owner of Ironman, often adds new events with additional slots (e.g., Cairns, Sweden), and occasionally subtracts slots from existing races, sometimes without notice.

[Also see our comprehensive analysis of Kona Qualifying Slots and Times by Ironman Race and Age Group]

(Also see how races offering slots have changed over time: Kona Qualifying Events 2005 vs 2012)

Ironman 70.3 Qualifying Slotss

Lottery: 250 Slots. About 250 slots are distributed by 5 lotteries:

• 5 for physically challenged
• 24 for residents of the Big Island, Hawaii
• 20 for Hawaii state residents, not including Big Island

If you are selected in the lottery, you must validate that entry by completing a WTC-owned Ironman or Ironman 70.3 event within an established timeframe. We have not come across information regarding a 2012 lottery process as of mid-August.

Ironman Triathlon Qualifying Times

Pro Division: 85 Slots. Beginning in 2011, pros earn Kona slots via a pro ranking system. Approximately 85 slots are expected to be awarded to pros this year. Additionally, pros who have won the Ironman World Championship within the previous 5 years are automatically granted entry.

Ironman Executive Challenge (XC): 25 Slots. Select business executives (roughly 12 to 16 per race) compete with age groupers in one of several Ironman or Ironman 70.3 races for the chance of winning Kona slots specifically reserved for the executives. In the 2011 season, Ironman XC included Ironman events in Arizona, Coeur d'Alene, Florida, Germany, and Louisville (typically 3 or 4 slots per race), and Ironman 70.3 events in California, Mallorca, New Orleans and Switzerland (1 slot per Ironman 70.3 event).
Other than trying your luck – against very long odds -- at the lottery (we estimate 7,500 enter the lottery), if you want to go to Kona, you need to qualify. An overview of the qualifying slot distribution process in 2011:

• The 1500+ race slots are allocated among 27 Ironman qualifying races and 6 Ironman 70.3 events (was 5, but 30 Ironman China slots were awarded to Ironman 70.3 Philippines), as shown above, race by race
• The slots each race gets (e.g., Wisconsin = 65 slots) are allocated among age-group divisions
• Each age group in a race gets one slot; the rest are allocated based on number of participants per age group (e.g., if 20% of athletes are M30-34, that AG gets 20% of the remaining slots)
• The slots in each race’s age-group division are reserved for the top finishers (e.g., the top 6 finishers in M45-49 are entitled to take a slot)
• It may happen that some athletes will choose to not accept a slot they earned for some reason; any slots not accepted ‘roll down’ to the next finisher(s) who also have the option to accept or pass on the slot.
• The ‘Roll Down’ process continues until all slots are taken

See official race rules for details and timing. It's very important to know who, where, when and how much, if you've qualified or have a shot at a rolldown.