World Triathlon has announced the updated qualification system for the duathlon competition at the World Games Chengdu 2025, set to take place this summer. The qualification period officially opened on January 1st, 2024, and will conclude on March 31st, 2025.
The World Games Chengdu 2025 will be held from July 7 to 17, 2025, with the duathlon events -individual men, individual women and duathlon 2x2 Mixed Relay- taking place between August 14, 15 and 17, with 80 athletes due to compete -40 per gender- and a maximum of three athletes per gender per country.
The qualification pathway offers multiple opportunities for athletes and National Federations to secure a place in the prestigious competition:
Continental Championships: The top four athletes from each of the five Continental Duathlon Championships (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania), held between January 1st, 2024 and March 31st, 2025, will earn a place for their respective country. If there are two Continental Championships within the qualification period, only the first one will count.
World Championships: The top ten finishers in the 2024 World Triathlon Duathlon Championships, held in Townsville in August 2024, (elite sprint distance) also secured a spot for their respective National Federation. If any of the top ten finishers have already earned a place at the Continental Triathlon Duathlon Championships or the NF of the athlete has already earned three places, then the next highest finishing athlete in the 2024 World Triathlon Duathlon Championships earns the qualification place. This will continue until five places have been allocated.
If this list is exhausted the remaining places will be allocated to the highest qualified athletes in the World Triathlon Duathlon rankings as of 31 March, 2025, excluding the athletes ?from NFs? who already earned a place through Continental or World Championships and athletes from NFs with 3 athletes qualified. In case this list is also exhausted the remaining places will be added to the invitational places.
China, as the host nation, is guaranteed a minimum of two spots per gender.
World Triathlon will issue three invitations to NFs, ensuring broader participation. Unused invitation places will return to the World Triathlon Duathlon Rankings. The deadline for NFs to submit their requests for invitational places is 15 March, 2025. World Triathlon will confirm, in writing the allocation of Invitation places to the NF by 30 April, 2025. The sport entries will be final on 10 June, 2025.
The updated qualification system ensures fair and equitable representation, with a clear pathway for athletes to compete at the highest level. The maximum number of athletes per NF is limited to three athletes per gender, allowing for greater representation from various nations.
The full qualification criteria, including detailed rules on quota allocation per NF, and the points system for the World Triathlon Duathlon Ranking can be found HERE