Introducing Triathlon Ireland’s Innovative Athlete Rankings System

National governing body Triathlon Ireland has unveiled a groundbreaking ranking system set to take effect in the 2025 season, heralding a new era in Irish multisport history with the introduction of official national athlete rankings.

The rankings, seamlessly integrated on the My Tri Ranking platform, encompass not only triathlons but also the Triathlon Ireland Duathlon and National Series. This innovative initiative aims to create a more comprehensive framework for athletes to gauge their performance and standing across the sport.

Charting New Territory in Triathlon

In a statement, Triathlon Ireland emphasised the unique challenges athletes face: “Triathlon is one of the most dynamic and varied sports, with no two races ever being the same. Different courses, weather conditions, and field sizes make it difficult to track progress meaningfully. Until now, triathletes have had no way to accurately measure their standing outside of individual race results.”

This new ranking system changes everything. Athletes can now aggregate data from all sanctioned sprint and standard distance triathlons and duathlons, allowing them to pinpoint their national ranking regardless of the races they enter. As Roisin MacCarthy, Triathlon Ireland’s National Events Co-ordinator, notes, “Our goal is to eventually have everyone who takes part in a triathlon in Ireland listed in our rankings, enabling all triathletes to analyse where they sit both among their age group and on the national stage.”

Imagine the thrill of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with competitors from all corners of the nation, with rankings reflecting not just participation but excellence. MacCarthy continues, “Our international age group athletes will also be able to count their sprint and standard distance triathlon and duathlon races towards their National Ranking, which we hope will encourage more people to join Tri Team Ireland and sign up for international age group racing.”

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The anticipation surrounding this initiative is palpable; it aims to foster a vibrant competitive environment that motivates athletes and builds community across Ireland.

A New Purpose in Competition

My Tri Ranking Founder Will Senior shared his enthusiasm about the partnership with Triathlon Ireland, stating, “We are thrilled to warmly welcome Irish athletes to our platform, thanks to our exciting new partnership with Triathlon Ireland. Since our first conversation about a potential partnership, it’s been evident that our visions are beautifully aligned.”

The partnership seeks to enhance the athlete experience by providing meaningful and accurate ways to assess progress. Senior reflects, “We hope to help motivate athletes and build camaraderie. Partnering with Triathlon Ireland, one of the most progressive governing bodies in sport globally, represents a crucial moment in the My Tri Ranking journey to become the common currency of multisport.”

For many athletes, this new ranking system is more than just an update; it serves as a bridge between participation and performance, transforming how they view their achievements. This fresh perspective on competition is integral, especially when you consider that Triathlon Ireland currently hosts over 200 sanctioned events each year, which is projected to increase with greater engagement from this ranking system.

Transforming the Competitive Landscape

The structure of scoring in the Triathlon Ireland Duathlon and National Series events has also been revamped. The eligibility criteria remain unchanged, but the assessment method has evolved, making it more equitable and transparent.

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For the Duathlon National Series, an athlete’s score will still consider the average of their results from the National Championships and their next two highest scores in Duathlon National Series events. Meanwhile, in the Triathlon National Series, athletes will be scored based on the average of their four highest scores in National Series events—one sprint and one standard distance race must be completed. This gives a more accurate representation of an athlete’s performance across different distances and formats.

The implications of these changes are profound. They provide a structured pathway from beginner to elite, allowing athletes to track improvement over seasons and set long-term aspirations. Moreover, upcoming phases of the project aim to boost inter-club and provincial competition, introducing a team element to racing below National Series level. Will this elevate the competitive spirit in Irish triathlon? Undoubtedly, it opens new gateways for athletes of all levels.

As the season unfolds, athletes will have the opportunity to log in each Thursday to check the latest rankings. This regular update fosters a sense of anticipation and community as they keep pace with their peers. Triathlon Ireland’s commitment to improving the athlete experience is evident, and there’s no denying that a competitive spark has been ignited across the nation.

In a sport where personal bests and national standings can shift faster than race-day weather, this new ranking system offers clarity and purpose. With each entry and update, every triathlete and duathlete in Ireland is set to discover not just where they stand, but how far they can go. A new chapter in Irish multisport beckons, and the race is on!

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