Team USA Eligibility

All athletes eligible to represent the United States must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen OR
  • Be a U.S. national – someone who has resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years and has not competed for their country of citizenship in the prior year. Team USA eligible athletes must not have competed for their country of citizenship in the prior year. Athletes who choose to be recognized as nationals who have competed for their country of citizenship in the last year may get dispensation by obtaining a letter from the National Federation of their home country allowing competition as a USA athlete.

Qualification Process

        1.    World Podium: Any athlete who places 1-3 in their age group at a world championship will automatically qualify for the respective world championship the following year.
        2.    National Championships: The remaining world championship slots are allocated to athletes who compete in the respective national championship and finish in a qualifying place (see below for number of slots allocated and the roll down process per event).
         3.    Rankings: If slots are still available, any athlete who finished in the aged up age group top twenty in their age group in the USA Triathlon year end (12/31/2019) rankings will be considered for slots on the team starting with the highest ranked athlete having first option to accept followed by 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc., (through 20th) until we have reached the first two athletes who accept the slot or until we reach spot 20.

Team USA Age Up Rule

At 2019 Nationals, athletes will race in their appropriate age groups based on their age as of Dec. 31, 2019. Awards will be issued based on those results. If an athlete "ages up" into another age group in 2020, a separate set of results will be issued accounting for those athletes who aged up and Team USA slots will be awarded based on these results. So their finish time will be compared to those athletes in the older age group. For example, if John Doe is going to be 49 years old by Dec. 31, 2019, he will age-up up into the 50-54 age group for the 2020 World Championships since he will be 50 years old by Dec. 31, 2020. Thus, for Team USA qualifying purposes, his time at the qualification event will be compared to the men currently in the 50-54 age group. We will post the age-up results at the awards ceremony at Duathlon and Age Group Nationals. At other national championships, age-up results will not be posted and athletes will claim their spot through email within 2-3 weeks post-event.

Rankings Requirements

For duathletes to be ranked this season, you will need to complete three sanctioned duathlons between January 1 and December 31, 2019.  If questions, go to the USAT Rankings at https://www.teamusa.org/usa-triathlon/rankings/rankings-criteria.

For triathletes to be ranked this season, you will need to complete three sanctioned triathlons between January 1 and December 31, 2019.  If questions, go to the USAT Rankings at https://www.teamusa.org/usa-triathlon/rankings/rankings-criteria.

Minimum Age Requirements

Athletes must be the following age by December 31st of the year in which the event occurs. Note: the below distances are for 2019. Distances in 2020 and beyond are subject to change.

Discipline

USA Triathlon National Championships Distances 

USAT National Championship Minimum Age

ITU World Championship Distances  

ITU World Championship Minimum Age

Aquathlon

3k run, 1000m swim, 2k run

15

1000m swim, 5k run

16

Standard Duathlon

10k run, 40k bike, 5k run

17

10k run, 40k bike, 5k run

18

Sprint Duathlon

5k run, 20k bike, 2.5k run

15

5k run, 20k bike, 2.5k run

16

Olympic Triathlon

1500m swim, 40k bike, 10k run

17

1500m swim, 40k bike, 10k run

18

Sprint Triathlon

750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run

15

750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run

16

Long Course Duathlon

6.2mile run, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run

17

10k run, 150k bike, 30k run

18

Long Course Triathlon

1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run

17

4k swim, 120k bike, 30k run

18

Off Road (Cross) Triathlon

1500m swim, 32k bike, 10k run

17

1500m swim, 30k bike, 10k run

18

Winter Triathlon

5k run, 17k bike, 7.5k ski

17

7.2k run, 12k mountain bike, 9.6k XC ski

18

Aquabike

1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike

17

TBA

18

2020 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships

Location: Almere, Netherlands
Date: Sept. 4-13
Qualifying
  • 2019 USA Triathlon Long Course Triathlon National Championship
    November 9-10
    Miami, Florida
    Qualification: Top 16 in each age group rolling down to 30th place after applying the age-up rule. Please note that 2 additional spots are being allocated to the 2018 USA Triathlon Ultra-Distance National Championships in Oklahoma City on Aug. 18.
  • Rankings:Any athlete who finished in the aged up age group top twenty in their age group in the USAT year end (12/31/2019) rankings will be considered for slots on the team starting with the highest ranked athlete having first option to accept followed by 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc., (through 20th) until we have we reach the first two athletes that accept the slot or until we reach spot 20.

2020 ITU Aquabike World Championship

Location: Almere, Netherlands
Date: Sept. 4-13
Qualifying
  • 2019 USA Triathlon Aquabike National Championship
    November 9-10
    Miami, Florida
    Qualification: Top 18 in each aged up age group rolling down to 30th place after applying the age-up rule
  • Rankings: Any athlete who finished in the aged up age group top twenty in their age group in the USAT year end (12/31/2019) rankings will be considered for slots on the team starting with the highest ranked athlete having first option to accept followed by 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc., (through 20th) until we have we reach the first two athletes that accept the slot or until we reach spot 20.
  • Note: The USA Triathlon International-Distance Aquabike National Championship is not a Team USA Qualifier.

2020 ITU Cross Triathlon (Off-Road) World Championship

Location:  Almere, Netherlands
Date: Sept. 4-13
Qualifying 
  • 2019 USA Triathlon Cross (Off-Road) Triathlon National Championship
    June 8
    Waco, Texas
    Qualification: Top 18 in each aged up age group rolling down to 30th place after applying the age-up rule 
  • Rankings: Any athlete who finished in the aged up age group top twenty in their age group in the USAT year end (12/31/2019) rankings will be considered for slots on the team starting with the highest ranked athlete having first option to accept followed by 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc., (through 20th) until we have we reach the first two athletes that accept the slot or until we reach spot 20.

2020 ITU Standard Duathlon World Championships

Location: Almere, Netherlands
Date: Sept. 4-13
Qualifying 

  • 2019 USA Triathlon Standard Duathlon National Championship
    April 14
    Greenville, South Carolina
    Qualification: Top 18 in each aged up age group rolling down to 30th place after applying the age-up rule.
  • Rankings: Any athlete who finished in the aged up age group top twenty in their age group in the USAT year end (12/31/2019) rankings will be considered for slots on the team starting with the highest ranked athlete having first option to accept followed by 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc., (through 20th) until we have we reach the first two athletes that accept the slot or until we reach spot 20.

2020 ITU Draft-Legal Sprint Duathlon World Championships

Location: Almere, Netherlands
Date: Sept. 4-13
Qualifying
Both races in Greenville, South Carolina qualify for the Draft-Legal Sprint Duathlon at the 2020 ITU Multisport Festival in Almere, Netherlands. 

Qualification through the Non-Drafting race:

For 2020 ITU Multisport Festival qualification, USA Triathlon will allot eight (8) spots for women and eight (8) spots for men in each age group at the USA Triathlon Non-Drafting Duathlon National Championship on April 14, 2019 in Greenville, South Carolina. No pass down spots will be granted from this event.

Qualification through the Draft-Legal race:

For 2020 ITU Multisport Festival qualification, USA Triathlon will allot ten (10) spots for women and ten (10)  spots for men in each age group at the USA Triathlon Draft-Legal Duathlon World Qualifier to be held April 14, 2019 in Greenville, South Carolina. Pass downs to spot 30 will be granted from this event.

Note that the deadline to claim ITU Multisport Festival spots can be up to 60 days before the event, regardless of how many slots may remain open after that deadline. USA Triathlon reaches Team USA capacity in each age group when 18 athletes have confirmed their spots.

2020 ITU Long-Distance Duathlon World Championship

Location: Zofingen, Switzerland
Date: TBD
Qualifying
  • 2019 USA Triathlon Long Course Duathlon National Championship
    November 9-10
    Miami, Florida
    Qualification: Top 18 in each aged up age group rolling down to 30th place 

2020 ITU Standard (Olympic Distance) Triathlon World Championships

Location: Edmonton, Canada
Date: Aug. 20-23
Qualifying

  • 2019 USA Triathlon Olympic Distance National Championship
    August 10
    Cleveland, Ohio
    Qualification: Top 18 in each aged up age group rolling down to 30th place after applying the age-up rule. Athletes must be present at the awards ceremony to accept their slot. Failure to accept your slot at the ceremony will result in a forfeiture of your slot.
  • Rankings: Any athlete who finished in the aged up age group top twenty in their age group in the USAT year end (12/31/2019) rankings will be considered for slots on the team starting with the highest ranked athlete having first option to accept followed by 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc., (through 20th) until we have we reach the first two athletes that accept the slot or until we reach spot 20.

2020 ITU Aquathlon World Championships

Location: Almere, Netherlands
Date: Sept. 4-13
Qualification
  •  2019 USA Triathlon Aquathlon National Championship
    November 9-10
    Miami, Florida
    Qualification: Top 18 in each aged up age group rolling down to 30th place after applying the age-up rule 
  • Rankings: Any athlete who finished in the aged up age group top twenty in their age group in the USAT year end (12/31/2019) rankings will be considered for slots on the team starting with the highest ranked athlete having first option to accept followed by 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc., (through 20th) until we have we reach the first two athletes that accept the slot or until we reach spot 20.

2020 ITU Winter World Championships

Location: TBD
Date: TBD
Qualification 
  • 2019 USA Triathlon Winter National Championship
    March 17   
    Minneapolis, Minnesota
    Qualification: Top 18 in each aged up age group rolling down to 30th place after applying the age-up rule · 

2020 ITU Sprint Triathlon World Championships

Location: Edmonton, Canada
Date: Aug. 20-23

Qualifying 
The 2019 USA Triathlon Sprint-Distance Age Group National Championships in Cleveland, Ohio will qualify athletes for the 2020 ITU Draft-Legal Sprint-Distance World Championships in Edmonton, Canada. The 2019 Age Group National Championships are not-draft legal, however, athletes will also have the additional opportunity to qualify through a separate Draft-Legal Qualifier in late 2019. Eight (8) spots per age group at the Age Group Sprint National Championships and ten (10) spots per age group at the Draft-Legal Qualifier will be allocated to the World Championship.

2019 USA Triathlon Age Group Sprint (Non-Drafting) Triathlon National Championship Cleveland, OH):

For the 2020 ITU World Championships in Edmonton, Canada, USA Triathlon will allot eight (8) spots for women and eight (8) spots for men in each age group in Cleveland. Athletes must claim their spot at the sprint distance awards ceremony. Additional spots may be available if not all ITU World Championship spots were claimed at the ITU Draft-Legal Sprint World Qualifier.

All athletes claiming an ITU World Championship pass down spot must meet the minimum eligibility requirements in order to receive a pass down slot which includes:

  • a) finishing 9th to 18th in the respective aged up age group, OR
  • b) being within 30% of the first place of the aged up finishing athlete’s time in the age group at the USAT National Championship race. 

Note that the deadline to claim ITU World Championship spots is up to 60 days before the ITU Triathlon World Championship, regardless of how many slots may remain open after that deadline. USAT reaches Team USA capacity in each age group when 18 athletes have confirmed their spots.

  • Example 1: Joe Doe finishes in 7th in his age group in Cleveland with a finish time that is 10% behind the top finisher’s time in his age group. Joe is eligible for an ITU World Championship spot because there are 8 spots available in his age group.
  • Example 2: Kirk Smith finishes in 5th in his age group at the USAT National Championship in Cleveland, OH with a finish time that is 34% behind the top finisher’s time in his age group. Although Kirk did not finish within 30% of the first place finisher’s time, he is still eligible for a world championship spot because he was still in the top 8 finishers.
  • Example 3: Jane Wynn finishes 19th in her age group at the USAT National Championship in Cleveland, OH with a finish time that is 26.5% back of the top finisher’s time in her age group.  Not all of the eight world championship slots have been claimed by finishers in front of her in her age group. Even though Jane was not in the top 18 in her age group Jane would still be eligible for an ITU World Championship spot if one became available because she was less than 30% behind her age group’s top finisher.
  • Example 4: Janice McGee finishes 19th in her age group at the USAT National Championships in Cleveland, OH with a finish time that is 32% behind the top finisher’s time in her age group. Even if the eight ITU World Championship spots have not be claimed by finishers in front her, Janice would not be eligible for a world championship spot because she fails to meet the finish place and percentage back requirement. 

2019 ITU Draft-Legal Sprint Triathlon World Championship Qualifier:

This event will qualify athletes for the ITU Draft-Legal Sprint Triathlon World Championship in 2020.

For the 2020 ITU World Championships, USA Triathlon will reserve up to ten (10) spots for women and up to ten (10) for men in each aged up age group at this event. In order to be eligible to claim his/her ITU World Championship spot, each qualifying athlete must place within the top 10 in their age group AND be within the established cut-off time using Table 1 shown below (calculations were based on results at the USAT Age Group Non-Draft Sprint Triathlon National Championship in Cleveland, OH in 2018).

Athletes will compete in this event based on age as of December 31, 2020.

Note that because athlete’s eligibility to claim an ITU World Championship spot at this event is based on results from the USAT Age Group Sprint Triathlon National Championship, it is possible that not all 10 spots in each age group will be filled (meaning some people will miss the time back qualification).

  • Example 1: Michael Smith places first in his 50-54 aged-up age group at the 2018 ITU Sprint Worlds Qualifier and automatically qualifies for the 2020 ITU Sprint Triathlon World Championship. His finish time is 60 minutes. That time would be what USAT uses to calculate the percentage back for the age group.
  • Example 2: John Jay finishes 11th in the 50-54 aged-up age group, only 4% back of the first place finish time in his age group. Even if he was within the qualifying percent of the top finisher’s time in the age group according to the table published by USAT, John would not be eligible for a world championship spot since he was not among the top ten finishers in his age group.
  • Example 3: Janice Field, competing in the 20-24 age group,  places 10th in her age group with a time that is 12% behind her age group’s top finisher.  She would earn the spot based on her meeting both the finish place and time qualification (14.1%) for her age group.  If she had been (11th) eleventh place, she wouldn’t have met qualification.