Qualification
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How do I qualify for the 2012 Ironman World Championship 70.3?
Athletes gain entry into the 2012 Ironman World Championship 70.3 one of two ways: by earning a qualifying slot at one of the qualifying events held worldwide or through the Physically Challenged Lottery. Official qualifying events award Ironman World Championship 70.3 slots to their top age-group finishers. Qualifying races consist of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run.

What divisions are offered?
Professional, Age Group, Physically Challenged and Hand Cycle divisions are offered.

Is there Clydesdale/Athena or Relay division slots?
No. Relay or Clydesdale/Athena divisions will not be held in conjunction with the Ironman World Championship 70.3.

How does the age group slot allocation work?

• Prior to race day, at least one slot shall be tentatively allocated to each Age Group category (both male and female). Please see the official Age Group category breakdown listed below.
• Final slot allocation will be determined on race day based on the number of official starters. If there are no starters in a particular Age Group, then that slot will be moved to the next calculated Age Group within the gender.
• Final slot allocation shall be representative of the actual number of Age Group starters in each category in the race.  For example, if 8% of the Age Group starters are Female 40-44, then 8% of the slots are allocated to the Female 40-44 category.
• Athletes MUST claim their slot in-person during the designated registration period for the world championship. Please check the Schedule of Events for more information.

What is the Age Group breakdown?

• 18-24
• 25-29
• 30-34
• 35-39
• 40-44
• 45-49
• 50-54
• 55-59
• 60-64
• 65-69
• 70-74
• 75-79
• 80+

What is rolldown and how does it work?

• At the conclusion of on site registration for the automatic qualifiers, any unclaimed slots within an Age Group will be rolled down to the next eligible finisher within that Age Group.
• If an athlete chooses not to take the slot, does not attend the rolldown ceremony or has already qualified, the next eligible finisher in that Age Group may claim the qualifying slot.
• Following rolldown, any unclaimed slots within an Age Group will be reallocated to another Age Group within the gender based on the athletes-to-slots ratio.
• The Age Group within the gender with the largest athletes-to-slots ratio will receive the first reallocated slot, followed by the next largest ratio receiving the second re-allocated slot (if applicable), and so on.

Am I required to be on-site during the Ironman World Championship 70.3 registration and rolldown to claim my slot?
Yes, athletes must be present on-site during official registration and rolldown hours to claim their slot. Athletes should plan accordingly per the official qualifier event schedule.

Where can I find the number of slots per age group at a qualifying event?
Please log on to the qualifying event’s official website to view the number of allocated age group slots.

If there isn’t a race in my country, how do I qualify?
Log on to the www.ironman.com/events page to view a full list of qualifying events to locate the event closest to you.

I accepted and registered for my slot but can’t race. Can I give the slot to my friend or defer it till next year?
Transfers or deferrals of slots are NOT permitted. Please contact vegas@ironman.com to withdraw from the event.

Is there a waiting list for athletes who qualify and later drop out?
Transfers or deferrals of slots are NOT permitted. We don’t offer a waiting list or rolldown for athletes who have not qualified.

How do I determine whether I should race as an age grouper or professional?
You must declare your status and race in that division. Professionals must hold a valid professional/elite card or a letter from their country’s federation. For more information on Ironman pro membership please log onto www.ironmanpromembership.com.

If I qualified as an age grouper and then turned professional, can I still race and vice-versa?
No. You must re-qualify as a professional earning a pro slot. If you race as a professional athlete during the calendar year, you may not race as an age grouper in an Ironman event or the Marine Corps Ironman World Championship 70.3 for that year as well as the following year.

If a person finishes the 2012 Ironman World Championship 70.3, will the athlete automatically qualify for next year’s race?
Only the Professional Champions (male and female), Age Group Champions and Hand Cycle Champion athletes are invited to return.

What is the entry fee for the 2012  Ironman World Championship 70.3?
$350.00 USD

What is the 2012 refund/withdrawal policy and when is the deadline?
Withdrawal requests must be received in writing via e-mail to vegas@ironman.com. Without exception, all requests must be received on or before July 25, 2012 to be eligible for a partial refund of $75.00 (USD). No refunds will be issued for request made after July 25, 2012. Transfers or deferrals are NOT permitted.

Are there age requirements?
Athletes must be 18 years of age on race day.

What age group will I compete in on the day I participate in the Ironman World Championship 70.3?
The Ironman World Championship 70.3 and all qualifying events implement both the International Triathlon Federation and USA Triathlon’s Age Group Competition rule: All age group athletes must compete in the age group division corresponding to his or her age on December 31 of the year of the event.

Anti-Doping Policy
1. In accordance with the World Triathlon Corporation Anti -Doping Policy, all athletes accepting qualifying
slots for the 2012 Ironman World Championship and 2012 Ironman World Championship 70.3 will be required to sign a condition of Entry, Release and Indemnification waiver,
by which they agree to be placed into the WTC Registered Testing Pool for both in and out of competition
testing, and voluntarily consent to be governed by the published rule: www.ironmanpromembership.com
2. We encourage all athletes to be familiar with the most current WADA Prohibited list which
can be found: http://ironmanpromembership.com/anti-doping/
3. According to the World Anti-Doping Agency and the 2010 International Standard for Therapeutic
Use Exemptions, there are some substances which require a Declaration of Use. The WTC recommends
completing this in two ways:
a) Filing a Declaration of Use directly to your NADO or through your secured ADAMS login The WTC Declaration of Use form can be found – www.ironmanpromembership.com
b) On the Doping Control Official Record at the time of testing should you be selected for Doping Control The substances which require a Declaration of Use are listed below:
i) Albuterol and Salmeterol by inhalation for the treatment of asthma
ii) Inhaled or locally injected glucocorticosteroids (intramuscular use requires a TUE)
iii) Platelet Rich Plasma injections (except intramuscular which requires a TUE).

PC Lottery
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What is the Physically Challenged Lottery Program?
The Ironman World Championship 70.3 selects five Physically Challenged (PC) athletes each year via the Physically Challenged Lottery Program worldwide.

What are the Physically Challenged divisions?
Upper extremity: Consisting of athletes who have had one or both arm(s) amputated, above or below the elbow, and will use a prosthesis on the bike portion.

Lower extremity: Consisting of athletes who are above or below-the-knee amputees. Athletes may use a standard bicycle and prosthetics or crutches during the run portion.

Wheelchair One: Consisting of athletes who are single above-the-knee or below-the-knee amputees and who ride a standard bicycle but use a racing wheelchair for the run portion.

Wheelchair Two: Consisting of athletes who are double below- or above-the-knee amputees and who ride a standard bicycle but use a racing chair for the run portion.

Visually impaired: Consisting of athletes who are legally blind (20/200 with best-corrected vision) and require a guide throughout the race.

Athletes are required to submit a medical description of physical disability from primary care physician to vegas@ironman.com by Friday, March 23 at 12:00 p.m. EST. Upon review of information received, all eligible athletes will be registered for the Physically Challenged (PC) lottery. Any application received with incomplete information will not be processed for lottery selection.  Any decision on whether or not an athlete meets the criteria for a specific division is at WTC’s sole discretion. Athletes must complete any Ironman 70.3  race (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run) or longer within one year of the 2012 Ironman World Championship 70.3 to validate their lottery slot. Lottery winners must complete the validating race before Monday, August 20, 2012 and all validating information must be E-mailed to vegas@ironman.com by Monday, August 27, 2012. Failure to comply will result in forfeiture of the slot.

When does the Physically Challenged Lottery open?
The 2012 Physically Challenged Lottery Program will open on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. EST.

When will the Physically Challenged Lottery close?
The 2012 Physically Challenged Lottery Program will close on Friday, March 23, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. EST.

When will the Physically Challenged Lottery winners be notified?
The 2012 Physically Challenged Lottery Program winners will be notified by email and by phone by Wednesday, April 4, 2012.

What is the 2012 Physically Challenged Lottery entry fee?
Lottery Application $30.00 USD

How many times can I register?
Each individual is allowed to register one time. Any duplicated registrations will be deemed ineligible and removed from the listing without a refund.

What is the refund policy?
Refunds, transfers or deferrals are NOT permitted.

How and when can I view the winners?
The 2012 Physically Challenged (PC) Lottery winners will be announced on www.ironman.com once all of the athletes have been notified.

If I am selected in the Physically Challenged Lottery, what do I do and how do I validate my entry?
Athletes who are SELECTED through the Physically Challenged Lottery must have completed an Ironman 70.3 event within one year of the 2012 Ironman World Championship 70.3 to validate his/her lottery slot. Lottery winners must complete a validating race before Monday, August 20, 2012 and all validating information should be E-mailed to vegas@ironman.com by Monday, August 27, 2011. Failure to comply will result in forfeiture of the Lottery slot.

If I win a Lottery slot, what is the entry fee for the 2012 Ironman World Championship 70.3?
$350.00 USD

2012 Ironman World Championship 70.3 Refund/Withdrawal Policy:
Withdrawal requests must be received in writing via e-mail to vegas@ironman.com. Without exception, all requests must be received on or before July 25, 2012 to be eligible for a partial refund of $75.00 (USD). No refunds will be issued for any request made after July 25, 2012. Transfers or deferrals are NOT permitted.

I won a Physically Challenged Lottery slot, but can’t compete this year. Can I use it next year?
No, Ironman Lottery slots are only good for the year in which they are won and may not be deferred for a future event. If all slots are not claimed, they will not be re-allocated elsewhere.

Are there Lottery slots for Hand Cycle athletes?
No. Athletes competing in the Hand-Cycle (HC) division can qualify for either world championship at the following two races: Ironman 70.3 Buffalo Springs Lake and Ironman 70.3 Antwerp. Both qualifying races have two male and one female slot. HC athletes are not eligible for the PC Lottery.

Who does the Ironman Lottery selection?
All qualified Physically Challenged winners will be selected at random via a third party service provider.