The next generation of triathletes are already banging on the door.
So far this year, we have seen a number of outstanding performances by Junior athletes. At championship races, such as the Oceania Junior Championships, North American Junior Championships and the South American Junior Championships, there have been plenty of names to put forward their credentials for this year’s world title.
Moreover at national tests, such as those of France, Germany and Britain, further athletes have established themselves as medal contenders. Other countries have also held internal tests and even making it to the start line in Hamburg will be a challenge.
With a dazzling array of talent coming through the ranks in triathlon, the World Junior Championships in Hamburg might be one of the most exciting races to behold this year.
How athletes make the start line, though, is not simply a question of being picked by their national federation. First each federation must earn a quota slot for the championships.
There will be 70 slots available for each gender in Hamburg. Some of these have already been allocated while others will be awarded this month. Furthermore quota slots can only be earned at one designated event for each continental union. If any country misses out by under-performing at their qualifier, that’s it for the year.
Each federation is also capped at 3 slots per gender. As soon as a federation has secured 3 spots, any additional places automatically roll down to the next eligible national federation.
Africa
The first 4 slots are assigned to federations in the African Triathlon Union. These were awarded to the top-4 finishers at the African Championships in September of last year.
Following the results of those championships, South Africa leads the way with the most slots. After winning both the men’s and women’s races in Agadir, they have qualified 2 men and 3 women. Tunisia earned the other 2 men’s slots while Zimbabwe have received 1 female slot.
Note, the athletes that earned the slots might not be the ones to race in Hamburg. That will be entirely up to the national federations.
Currently Africa receives the smallest quota share of any continent. Over the coming years and decades, that should shift as the sport grows in new regions.
Americas
The next 14 slots are pencilled in for federations in the Americas Triathlon Union. Both North and South America are grouped together in the Americas meaning that competition for the slots will be fierce.
The likes of America, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Chile are among those that will be looking to maximise their places; at least one of those countries, though, will have to miss out on a spot. Given the talent on offer, the likelihood is that only a few countries will actually achieve a full quota of places.
The recipients of the slots will be determined at the Americas Junior Qualification Event in Punta Cana next weekend. A full preview of that race will be made available tomorrow.
Asia
The Asian Triathlon Federation will be taking the next 8 slots.
These places have already been awarded based on the results of the Asian Junior Championships from July 2022. More specifically they were assigned to the top-8 finishers from the event in Nur-Sultan.
However, due to the cap of 3 places per country, 9th place in the men’s field received a slot after Kazakhstan put 4 men in the top-8. The beneficiary in 9th place was Chinese Taipei.
As a result, Kazakhstan will be able to take 3 men to Hamburg. Meanwhile Chinese Taipei will send 1 man and 1 woman.
After winning both the men’s and women’s race in Nur-Sultan, Japan have 2 male and 3 female quota places.
Hong Kong will send 1 man and 2 women while South Korea will send 1 man and 1 woman. Indonesia will have the final female slot from Asia.
Europe
The European Triathlon Union receives the largest portion of slots, with their 34 places coming in at almost 50% of the Hamburg field.
The places will be determined based on the results of the European Junior Cup in Caorle next weekend.
In contrast to the other continental unions, Europe’s slots will be decided over a Super Sprint race. The event will be split in two days, with heats taking place on the Friday and finals on the Saturday. In part, this is to spread the numbers. There are a lot of European federations that wish to send athletes to try to secure the spots.
With only 3 slots available per country, there will be a lot of talented athletes forced to watch the World Junior Championships from home.
Oceania
The fifth and final continental association is the Oceania Triathlon Union and they will have 5 slots. Notably Oceania receives 1 slot more than Africa. despite the difference in size.
The slots have generally been monopolised by Australia and New Zealand over the years and 2023 has been no different. The Oceania places were awarded following the Oceania Junior Championships back in February.
In Taupo, the Australian men locked out the top-4 positions. With New Zealand taking 5th and 6th, they earned 2 slots while Australia will have 3 men’s slots.
After New Zealand won the women’s race and put 2 athletes in the top-5, they earned 2 female slots without requiring a roll-down. Australia took the other 3 slots.
At the time of writing, Australia are the only country to possess slots for 3 men and 3 women. Both Japan and South Africa were just shy of matching that at their respective Continental Championships. With the Qualification Events of Europe and the Americas to come, chances are that Australia will be joined by other countries.
The extra slots
In total that gives 65 of the 70 slots for the continental unions.
The 66th slot is reserved for the host country. As hosts, Germany may be able to get a fourth slot per gender should they earn the maximum of 3 at the European qualifier. Should they fail to qualify 3 athletes, their status as hosts might just save them an extra place on the start line.
The final 4 slots are then designated for World Triathlon invitations.
Alongside this, any place not claimed by a national federation will be added to the invites. The primary way this can happen if is the national federation fails to enter their athlete(s) on time.
You can read World Triathlon’s full quota allocation document here.
