UPDATE #1 (5/5/25 - 12:30 am ET): I added the 2024 Kona Qualification Window to the analysis to account for more competitive male races when a KQ is on the line versus a Q slot for Nice. The updated analysis can be found HERE. However, the results are highly similar to the data and charts below, further supporting the underlying hypothesis and reasoning. 

UPDATE #2 (5/6/25 - 6:30 pm ET): I redid the analysis using the average finish time of the Top 3 finishers in each AG instead of just the AG winner to protect against extraordinarily fast AG winners. The updated analysis and charts can be found HERE. I updated the petition text with the new methodology in (). New charts can be found at the end of the petition. 

Original Petition:

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1️⃣ A Cherished Tradition—With a Hidden Cost

On April 30, 2025, Ironman announced that, starting in 2026, the Ironman World Championship will return exclusively to Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i. While the Big Island is iconic, combining the men’s and women’s races into a single day reduces the age-group field from approximately 5,000 athletes to about 2,500.

2️⃣ The Current Slot System Penalizes Women

Ironman intends to revive its legacy allocation: slots awarded in direct proportion to AG size. Because men make up over 80% of finishers, they receive the vast majority of Kona Qualification (KQ) spots.

Key fact: In our 24‑race dataset (which can be accessed HERE), 95 % of female AGs received only one slot vs. 38 % of male AGs. Female athletes usually must win outright; many men qualify several minutes and places behind their AG winners.

3️⃣ Women Are Equally Distributed by Age …

4️⃣ … But They Cluster at the Sharp End

Yet the current proportional system ignores this competitiveness:

5️⃣ A Data‑Driven, Performance‑Based Alternative

We propose the following:

• Each AG winner automatically receives a slot. 
• Remaining slots go to athletes closest in percentage to their AG winner. (updated method: Remaining slots go to the athletes closest in % to the average finishing time of the Top 3 finishers in their respective AG. Total # of slots is capped at 25% of AG size)
• Roll‑downs follow the same rule. 

This approach ensures equal qualifying opportunity for all age groupers irrespective of gender or age. 

6️⃣ Why This Change Matters

• Fairness: Rewards performance, not headcount.
• Competitiveness: Elevates the caliber of the Kona field.
• Marketing: Aligns with Ironman’s own slogan—Every Second Matters—across all athletes.
• Equity: Reduces single-slot female AGs from 235 to 143.

7️⃣ Who I Am

I’m a five‑time iron‑distance finisher (WC finisher at Kona 2024 & St George 2021). This change would make it harder for me to qualify again, but sport should be a meritocracy, not a numbers game.

8️⃣ Call to Action

Ironman President Scott DeRue says the organisation “listens to athletes and follows the data.” Let’s hold Ironman to that promise.

Sign, share, and tag #FairSlotsKona.

Together, we can make Kona qualification about how fast you race, not about how many show up.

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Updated charts with the new method (slots allocated based on % behind average finish time of top 3 AG finishers by AG) compared to the two originally presented here: