Elite Triathlon Membership Qualification #
Athletes wishing to race as an elite triathlete, duathlete or off-road triathlete in any USA Triathlon sanctioned event must hold a USA Triathlon elite athlete license in their respective category. Elite triathlon membership will be available to qualified, highly competitive, and experienced athletes who meet the qualifications respective to their license category as outlined in the Elite Triathlon License Qualification Criteria. Only athletes holding an elite triathlon license are eligible to compete in the elite wave of any USA Triathlon sanctioned event that offers a minimum prize purse of $5,000. The terms "elite" and "professional" are used interchangeably but USA Triathlon prefers that these athletes be referred to as "elites" in order to align with World Triathlon and the USOPC.
- Elite Athlete License Qualification Criteria (PDF)
- Elite Paratriathlete License Qualification Criteria (PDF)
Elite Triathlon National Team Qualification #
Note: athletes with a USA Triathlon Elite Athlete certification are not automatically part of the Elite Triathlon National Team. Athletes must also meet the following criteria in addition to holding an elite license.
2023 USAT Elite Triathlon National Team Program Qualification Criteria
2023 USAT Elite Triathlon National Team Program Guiding Principles
USAT Background Check Policy (PDF; Updated Dec. 18, 2022)
USAT Elite Athlete Disciplinary Policy (Updated Jan. 3, 2023)
2023 Human Powered Health Triathlon Development Race Series
The purpose of NTDRs is to provide a draft-legal pathway to a USAT Elite License and a competitive domestic race series for Elite Development athletes.
Event Name | Date | Location | Results |
Tritonman | February 11, 2023 | Mission Bay, CA | TBD |
Clermont Draft Legal Challenge | March 4-5, 2023 | Clermont, FL | TBD |
St. Peters Triathlon | April 15, 2023 | St. Peters, MO | TBD |
East Coast Triathlon Festival | April 30, 2023 | Richmond, VA | TBD |
Jenny Lee Tri Cup | June 16, 2023 | Beaver Falls, PA | TBD |
Event Qualification #
Click on the links below to read the qualification criteria for each type of event.
Olympic Games Selection Process Documents
- Olympic Games Selection Procedures Task Force & Timeline (PDF) (Updated May 23, 2022)
- 2024 Olympic Games Selection Standard Operating Procedures
- 2024 Olympic Games Athlete Selection Procedures
- 2024 Olympic Games Athlete Selection Procedures Supplemental Document
- 2024 Olympic Games Selection Event Nomination Criteria
- 2024 Olympic Games Staff Selection Procedures
2023 World Triathlon Elite Event Qualification Criteria
- 2023 USAT World Triathlon Championship Series Event Selection Criteria
- 2023 USAT World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series Event Selection Criteria
- 2023 USAT World Triathlon Cup Event Selection Criteria
- 2023 USAT World Triathlon Continental Cup Event Selection Criteria
- 2023 International Competition Panel (Updated January 30, 2023)
- 2023 USAT Elite Triathlon Athlete Incentive Plan
2023 Pan American Games
- 2023 Pan American Games Athlete Selection Procedures (Posted December 21, 2022)
2023 Bali World Beach Games Qualification Criteria
- 2023 World Beach Games USA Triathlon Team Selection Criteria - (Updated January 27, 2023)
- 2023 World Beach Games USA Triathlon Staff Selection Criteria
2022 World Triathlon Elite Event Qualification Criteria
- 2022 USAT Elite Triathlon License Qualification (Updated June. 12, 2022)
2022 World Games Qualification Criteria
2020 Tokyo Olympic Games
- Games Staff Selection Procedures **Amended
- Games Athletes Selection Procedures **Amended 04-5-2021
- Games Athlete Selection Committee **Amended 04-05-2021
- Games Athlete Selection Process **Updated 6-9-2021
- Games Selection Event Criteria **Amended 3-24-2021
- Games Discretionary Events Addendum **Amended 2-9-2021
- Guiding Principles of Olympic Selection **Amended 3-23-2021
- Important supplement related to mandatory background checks
- USAT Background Check Policy
*To be eligible to compete at any Elite World Championship event you must be a current USA Triathlon elite license card holder at the time of qualification. This also holds true when competing in qualifying events that do not have an elite specific wave.
World Triathlon Pre Participation Examination (PPE) #
Starting in 2018, all athletes competing in World Triathlon competitions in Junior, U23, Elite Triathlon, and Elite Paratriathlon categories must have completed a pre-competition health screening which includes a questionnaire, a physical examination, and an ECG following the IOC's recommended procedure. Thereafter, all Junior, U23, Elite Triathlon, and Elite Paratriathlon athletes, competing in World Triathlon competitions must complete the medical questionnaire and undergo a medical examination each year, and in addition, must undergo a resting ECG every two years.
Please click here for the Medical Questionnaire and click here for the PPE certification.
The screening takes place in three steps:
- Answer the Medical Questionnaire: this questionnaire is strictly confidential and must be given to the doctor before the medical examination.
- Physical Examination: by the doctor following the IOC recommendations published in the "Lausanne Recommendations" about the Sudden Cardiovascular Death in Sport Consensus.
- Cardiac auscultation:
- Rate/rhythm
- Murmur: systolic/diastolic
- Systolic click
- Blood Pressure
- Radial and Femoral Pulses
- Marfan stigmata
- Cardiac auscultation:
- A 12 lead rest electrocardiogram (ECG). Doctor to look for anomalies in rhythm, conduction, or repolarization.
Please click here to read further about this PPE.
Once you have completed your PPE, athletes should:
- Retain the original completed, dated, and signed questionnaire and PPE evaluation for your own records.
- Submit only the completed PPE certification to elite@usatriathlon.org for USAT to keep on file.
SafeSport Training Requirement
Beginning January 1, 2018, all athletes who wish to compete in Junior, U23, Elite Triathlon, and Elite Paratriathlon categories at World Triathlon events are required to complete and pass the USAT Safe Sport tutorial. Directions for completing SafeSport can be found below. This tutorial needs to be completed every year.
To complete the SafeSport Core Training, please follow the instructions below.
- Log into your USAT member account: https://member.usatriathlon.org
- On your dashboard, you should see a banner that says, "Invalid SafeSport Entry."
- Please click "Renew SafeSport."
- On the next page, look for the course with the "Start" button next to it. This is your required course for this year.
- Please note that you must complete SafeSport Trained or Refresher 1,2, or 3 to meet the SafeSport requirement. You are welcome to review the other SafeSport classes as well, but those classes will not satisfy the SafeSport requirement.
- Please save a copy of your SafeSport course completion certificate for your records.
- If you run into any technical difficulties, please email trisafesupport@usatriathlon.org.
Once you have completed the tutorial, please email the completed .pdf certificate to: elite@usatriathlon.org.
Athlete Ombuds
The Office of the Athlete Ombuds offers independent, confidential advice to elite athletes regarding their rights and responsibilities in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, and assists athletes with a broad range of questions, disputes, complaints and concerns.
Phone: 719-866-5000
Email: ombudsman@usathlete.org
Website: usathlete.org
Athlete Ombuds Confidentiality and Privacy Policy:
(A) In general.—The Office of the Athlete Ombuds shall maintain as confidential any information communicated or provided to the Office of the Athlete Ombuds in confidence in any matter involving the exercise of the official duties of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds. (B) Exception.—The Office of the Athlete Ombuds may disclose information described in subparagraph (A) as necessary to resolve or mediate a dispute, with the permission of the parties involved.(C) Judicial and administrative proceedings.—(i) In general.—The ombudsman and the staff of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds shall not be compelled to testify or produce evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding with respect to any matter involving the exercise of the duties of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds.(ii) Work product.—Any memorandum, work product, notes, or case file of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds—(I) shall be confidential; and(II) shall not be—(aa) subject to discovery, subpoena, or any other means of legal compulsion; or (bb) admissible as evidence in a judicial or administrative proceeding. (D) Applicability.—The confidentiality requirements under this paragraph shall not apply to information relating to—(i) applicable federally mandated reporting requirements; (ii) a felony personally witnessed by a member of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds;(iii) a situation, communicated to the Office of the Athlete Ombuds, in which an individual is at imminent risk of serious harm; or (iv) a congressional subpoena.
Anti-Retaliation Statement:
USA Triathlon prohibits employees, contractors, agents, volunteers, or members of the USOPC from threatening or taking action against an athlete for disclosing information to or asking for the assistance of the Ombuds