How Are Kona Slots Allocated?

The Kona Slots are allocations of spots for athletes to compete in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. The race has been held every year since 1978, and is considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world. Athletes must complete a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.

2-mile marathon, all within 17 hours to be eligible for a Kona Slot. There are approximately 1,800 Kona Slots available each year, which are allocated through a combination of qualifying races and lottery.

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To qualify for a Kona Slot, athletes must first earn points by competing in Ironman or Ironman 70.3 races around the world.

The number of points an athlete earns depends on their finishing time and placement within their age group. The top 50 male and top 35 female athletes in each age group with the most points at the end of the season will automatically qualify for a Kona Slot. .

In addition to qualifying races, 35% of Kona Slots are awarded through a lottery system. To enter the lottery, athletes must have competed in an Ironman or Ironman 70.

3 race that same year and meet other eligibility requirements set by World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), the organization that oversees Ironman events.

The final 30% of Kona Slots are reserved for athletes who have qualified through one of WTC’s other race series or for those who have completed at least 12 full Ironman distance races. These athletes are selected by WTC based on their personal achievements and commitment to the sport of triathlon.

Whether an athlete qualifies for a Kona Slot through a qualifying race or lottery, they must still register for the Ironman World Championship within 24 hours of receiving their notification from WTC. Qualifying for a Kona Slot does not guarantee entry into the race, as spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

With over 2 million people competing in Ironman events each year, the odds of qualifying for the Ironman World Championship are slim. For many athletes, just being able to say they qualified for Kona is an accomplishment in itself.