Big Changes Coming to Kona & 70.3 Worlds Qualification 🌺
Starting in 2026, Ironman is rolling out a brand-new way for age-group triathletes to qualify for the Ironman World Championship in Kona and the 70.3 World Championship. The goal? To make the system more performance-based, so that the fastest athletes—regardless of age group size—have the best shot at earning a spot.
🚨 What’s Changing?
Old system:
Each age group got a certain number of slots based on how many people were racing in that group.
New system:
Only one slot per age group is guaranteed. All remaining slots go into a “Performance Pool” based on age-graded times—so you’re ranked not just in your age group, but across all age groups using a standardized adjustment.
🧠How Age-Grading Works
Your finish time will be multiplied by a factor (called the Kona or 70.3 Standard) that adjusts based on your age and gender. This makes it possible to fairly compare athletes across different categories.
Example:
Anne (42F) finishes in 9:19 → Adjusted time = 8:07
John (43M) finishes in 8:50 → Adjusted time = 8:33
→ Anne ranks higher in the Performance Pool, even though her raw time was slower.
🏆 What Stays the Same?
Each race will still have a set number of qualifying slots.
Top finisher in each age group gets an automatic slot.
Pro qualification is not changing.
Some slots will still go to legacy athletes, charity, and special programs.
👩‍🦱 A Step Toward Gender Equity?
Ironman says this new system could help increase female representation at world championship events by rewarding performance, not just participation numbers.
đź“… When Does It Start?
70.3 races: Qualification changes begin July 6, 2025
Full Ironman races: Start with events on August 16–17, 2025
These apply to athletes qualifying for the 2026 World Championships
đź’¬ Final Thoughts
This is a big shift, and it may take time to get used to. But Ironman hopes it’ll create a more competitive, fairer way to earn a spot at the biggest events in the sport. Instead of just racing your age group, you’re now racing everyone—and your time matters more than ever.
