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Kona will only have women next year – what race offers your best chance of qualifying?

The new ranking of best chances for women to go to Ironman World Championship

Photo by: Kevin Mackinnon

After the recent announcement that the Ironman World Championship would be split between two venues next year, Ironman has overhauled the world championship slot allocation for women. Earlier this year, based on the announcement of 1,200 dedicated Women’s For Tri spots for Kona, we had estimated the chances of qualifying at various Ironman races. Those numbers need to be reevaluated now, based on this recent announcement. Here is a breakdown of the changes as of Dec. 5, 2022:

Previously, for 26 races, an estimated 1,620 allocated and Women For Tri slots were allocated, an average of 62 per race
As of Dec. 5, 2022, the remaining 27 WC slot Ironman races (Philippines has been added), 1,475 women slots have been allocated, an average of 55 per race.

New Slot Allocations for Women in each race varies with our previous estimates

 

Biggest Hitters

Under the new allocation, seven races offer 75 or more women’s slots
  • Ironman Coeur d’Alene 115
  • Ironman Texas 100
  • Ironman Lake Placid 100
  • Ironman Hamburg 80
  • Ironman Cairns 75
  • Ironman Kalmar 75
  • Ironman Mont-Tremblant 75
The first women’s age group waits to start in Kona. Photo: Kevin Mackinnon

Biggest Winners

Compared to our estimates of previous allocations and Women For Tri slots, several races received an 80 per cent boost (or more) in women’s slots:
Ironman 70.3 Hawaii +43 slots
Ironman Austria +29
Ironman Brazil +23
Ironman Australia +23
 

Biggest Losers

Several races which benefitted greatly from Women For Tri slots saw their overall women’s allocation drop significantly
  • Ironman Copenhagen -71
  • Ironman Kalmar -46
  • Ironman Mont-Tremblant -45
  • Ironman South Africa -35
  • Another six lost 20 or more slots each

Net-net

The best chances to qualify for Kona, based on estimated participation in 2022 races? After the Dec. 5, 2022 reallocation, the opportunity has narrowed, but there still are very appealing possibilities:
  • Ironman South Africa 31%
  • Ironman Mont-Tremblant 26%
  • Ironman Vitoria-Gasteiz 24%
  • Ironman Cairns 21%
  • Ironman Tulsa 19%
  • Ironman  Coeur d’Alene 17%
  • Ironman Lake Placid 16%
  • Ironman Australia 15%