New Ironman Pro Membership Rules Affect Prize Money, Kona Slots At IM Malaysia
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The first Ironman to be subject to the new Ironman Pro Membership rules left a few pros walking away without a paycheck or a slot to October’s Ironman World Championship.
Racing as a professional in an Ironman or Ironman 70.3 race now means that athletes must be a part of the Ironman Pro Membership program. On top of a $750 annual membership fee, athletes are now subject to new rules in all Ironman branded events.
The new regulations state that athletes must finish within 8% of the winning time in order to walk away with any prize money. In addition, no prize money will be redistributed making the professional prize purse more of a maximum payout possibility, as opposed to a true gage of how much money will be given out.
For example, the prize purse for Ironman Malaysia is $50,000. Because of the new rules, only $39,500 was handed out after Saturday’s race.
American Hillary Biscay was one of the athletes left with no prize money and no chance at a roll down slot to Kona.
She commented on the outcome on her blog: “New WTC rules say that I am not eligible for the third-place $4000 USD prize money: after 10 hours and 10 minutes of hard racing, my time falls 2 minutes outside of 8% of the winning time. According to the new ‘8% rule,’ finishing 8.3% off of the winning time means I don’t get paid. Unfortunately, this money does not get redistributed to Belinda, Edith, or the four men who finished within the prize money cutoff. It ‘disappears.’”
Here’s a comparison of what athletes would have received under the old rules, and what was handed out under the new rules.
Prize Purse Allocation
Under Old Rules
Men
1. Marino Vanhoenacker (BEL) 8:22:31 $10,000
2. Hiroyuki Nishiuchi (JPN) 8:50:52 $6,000
3. Romaine Guillaume (FRA) 8:54:38 $4,000
4. Justin Granger (AUS) 9:01:08 $3,500
5. Andres Venhorst (NED) 9:12:03 $2,000
Women
1. Belinda Granger (AUS) 9:23:33 $10,000
2. Edith Niederfriniger (ITA) 9:35:02 $6,000
3. Hillary Biscay (USA) 10:10:59 $4,000
4. Ariane Monteceli (BRA ) 10:15:17 $3,500
5. Jocelyn Wong (USA) 10:20:32 $2,000
Under New Rules – Within 8% Of Winner’s Time
Men
1. Marino Vanhoenacker (BEL) 8:22:31 $10,000
2. Hiroyuki Nishiuchi (JPN) 8:50:52 $6,000
3. Romaine Guillaume (FRA) 8:54:38 $4,000
4. Justin Granger (AUS) 9:01:08 $3,500
5. Andres Venhorst (NED) 9:12:03 $0
Women
1. Belinda Granger (AUS) 9:23:33 $10,000
2. Edith Niederfriniger (ITA) 9:35:02 $6,000
3. Hillary Biscay (USA) 10:10:59 $0
4. Ariane Monteceli (BRA) 10:15:17 $0
5. Jocelyn Wong (USA) 10:20:32 $0
Kona Slot Allocation Eligibility
Under Old Rules
Men
1. Marino Vanhoenacker (BEL) 8:22:31
2. Hiroyuki Nishiuchi (JPN) 8:50:52
All athletes subject to a receive a roll down slot if either of the top two didn’t take their slot.
Women
1. Belinda Granger (AUS) 9:23:33
2. Edith Niederfriniger (ITA) 9:35:02
All athletes subject to a receive a roll down slot if either of the top two didn’t take their slot.
Under New Rules – Within 5% Of Winner’s Time
Men
1. Marino Vanhoenacker
2. Not Given Out
No athletes eligible for roll down slots.
Women
1. Belinda Granger
2. Edith Niederfriniger
No athletes eligible for roll down slots.