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Policies


Pregnancy and Parenthood Policy

  • For Athletes that become pregnant after registering for an event: IRONMAN will provide a deferral to the same event the following year for up to two years with proof of pregnancy or birth certificate of new child(ren)
  • For Athletes that are adopting or birthing via surrogacy:
    IRONMAN will provide a deferral to the same event the following year with proof of surrogacy birth or adoption within three months prior to event date.
  • For Athletes with a partner that is pregnant:
    IRONMAN will provide a deferral to the same event the following year with proof of due date or delivery on or within one month prior, or two months post-event date.
  • Defer your AWA Status: Athletes with All World Athlete status can contact [email protected] to defer their AWA status for up to two years, in accordance with the above options.

Verification
Athletes should provide written confirmation of the relevant circumstance e.g. medical note signed by a doctor or physician or registered midwife.

IRONMAN reserves the right to request additional verification of the relevant circumstances and may deny a deferral request if the documentation provided is deemed insufficient.


Handcycle Division

The Handcycle (HC) is a competitive division open to athletes who are paraplegic, quadriplegic or double above-the-knee amputees, and race using a hand-cranked cycle on the bike course and a racing chair on the run course. Conduct and standards for handlers of HC athletes is governed by the World Triathlon Competition Rules.

Click here for the 2024 Approved Events for Handcycle Division Wheelchair 

Race awards with respect to the HC Division will not be based upon age groups within the HC Division but will be given to the top female and male finishers of the HC Division.

For further inquiries, please contact the race-specific email. You may also visit our Handcycle FAQ information below.


Physically Challenged ("PC") / Intellectual Disability ("ID") Open Division ("PC/ID Open")

Participation in the PC/ID Open Division is available to athletes with a medically verified Visual Impairment (as such term is defined below), Special Teams (as set forth in Section 8.05 of the IRONMAN Competition Rules), athletes with an intellectual disability (as set forth in Section 8.06 of the IRONMAN Competition Rules), or athletes with a medically verified physical or neurological impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Athletes with other miscellaneous medical conditions such as, but not limited to, intolerance to temperature extremes, organ transplants, joint replacements (endoprosthetics), kidney dialysis, hearing impairments, and/or cognitive impairment (except as otherwise outlined in Section 8.06 of the IRONMAN Competition Rules) are not eligible to participate in the PC/ID Open Division.

1. The term "visual impairment" means either: 

a) a visual acuity of 20/200 (6/60 meters) or less in the better-seeing eye with best conventional correction (meaning with regular glasses or contact lenses) or
b) a visual field (the total area an individual can see without moving the eyes from side to side) of 20 degrees or less (also called tunnel vision) in the better-seeing eye; 

2. Visually impaired athletes must: 

  1. Use only one (1) guide of non-specific gender throughout the entire Race,
  2. Be tethered during the swim segment of the Race, 
  3. Ride a tandem bicycle during the bike segment of the Race, and  
  4. During the run segment of the Race, use either an elbow lead or a tether lead conduct and standards for handlers and guides is governed by the World Triathlon Competition Rules. 

Special Teams

Special Teams require the combination of an able-bodied athlete with a disabled athlete. A Special Team will consist of only two (2) persons who should compete in the entire race without any athlete substitutions. The disabled athlete is a person who is incapable of propelling themselves on the course using their own muscle power in any or all of the disciplines. 

Please note: This does not include the PC/ID Open Division or Handcycle athletes who may require a sighted guide or minimal assistance transitioning from one discipline to another. 

Click here for the 2024 Approved Events for Special Teams

For further inquiries, please contact the race-specific email. You may also visit our Special Teams FAQ.