With Paris just around the corner this summer, let's take a look at how the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Triathlon teams will be selected.

First, Who Has Already Qualified?

U.S. Elite Triathlon National Team members Taylor Knibb and Morgan Pearson punched their tickets to Paris 2024 at the 2023 World Triathlon Olympic Test Event Paris last August. The pair were members of the Olympic silver-medal-winning Mixed Relay team at the Tokyo Olympics.

For the Paralympics, 10 U.S. Elite Paratriathlon National Team members have qualified for Paris 2024: Grace Norman, Kelly Elmlinger, Hailey Danz, Kendall Gretsch, Mohamed Lahna, Owen Cravens (with guide Ben Hoffman), Howie Sanborn, Mark Barr, Carson Clough and Melissa Stockwell.

Upcoming date to remember

May 11: This is the final auto-qualification opportunity for U.S. elite triathletes to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics at the 2024 World Triathlon Championship Series Yokohama. The first U.S. athlete (male and female) among the top-3 who has not already qualified will punch their ticket to Paris 2024.

How is the U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team be selected?

Athletes qualify via three automatic selection events in 2023 and 2024. Any remaining team spots not filled by auto-qualification will be filled via discretion.

Automatic Selection Event No. 1 | 2023 World Triathlon Olympic Test Event in Paris

Aug. 17-20, 2023

In Paris, the first two athletes (per gender) who finish in the top-3 will earn automatic qualification.

If only one athlete finishes in the top-3, the next best athlete that finishes in the top-8 will also be picked (i.e. first U.S. athlete places third, the next U.S. athlete places sixth – both athletes auto-qualify).

If no athlete reaches the podium at Paris Test Event, then the best finisher in the top-8 will auto-qualify.

If no athlete finishes in the Top 8, then no athlete will auto-qualify in Paris.

*Update from event:

Taylor Knibb placed fifth among women, leading the U.S. women to qualify for Paris 2024.

Morgan Pearson was the top U.S. man, placing sixth to qualify for Paris 2024.

Automatic Selection Event No. 2 | 2023 World Triathlon Championship Finals Pontevedra

Sept. 20-24, 2023

The first athlete to finish top-3 who has not already qualified for the team via Selection Event No. 1 will earn automatic selection (up to 1 athlete per gender)

If no athlete finishes in the top-3 at Championship Finals, then no athlete will auto-qualify in Pontevedra

*Update from event:

No U.S. athletes qualified for Paris 2024 in Pontevedra.

Automatic Selection Event No. 3 | 2024 World Triathlon Championship Series Yokohama

May 11, 2024

If quota spots remain, then the first athlete to finish top-3 who has not already qualified will earn automatic selection (up to 1 per gender).

If no athlete has earned automatic selection at the first two Selection Events, then the top two athletes to finish in the top-3 at Selection Event No. 3 will earn automatic selection (up to 2 per gender).

If quota spots remain, and if no athlete has earned automatic selection at Selection Event 1, 2 or 3, then the highest-placed athlete finishing within the Top 8 at Selection Event No. 3 will earn automatic selection to the team. Only one athlete will be selected by this protocol and all remaining open spots will be filled by Discretionary Selection.

Update based on results of Paris Test Event and World Championships Pontevedra:

Since one athlete for each gender has already qualified (Taylor Knibb and Morgan Pearson), then the first athlete (female and male) to finish in the top-3 in Yokohama who has not already qualified will earn automatic selection. Only one spot for U.S. men and women is available for auto-qualification at Yokohama.

Discretionary Selections

Remaining team spots will be filled by the Olympic Games Athlete Selection Panel via Discretionary Selection. The panel will consider athletes who can achieve or contribute to a podium result in the individual event and/or to the mixed relay event.

Performance guidelines that will be considered include performances at WTCS and World Cup races, performance in Super Sprint races, recency of performance, course profile, team composition and team strategy.

When will the teams be announced?

The U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team will be announced in early to mid-June.

How many athletes will qualify?

Paris 2024 will include 110 spots (55 men and 55 women). The maximum spots any country can earn is three men and three women for a total of six.

To earn the maximum three spots per gender, a country must have three athletes within the top 30 places of the World Triathlon Individual Olympic Qualification Rankings as of May 27, 2024.

For the Tokyo 2020 Games, the U.S. sent three women and two men.

How U.S. Elite Triathletes Qualify for Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games

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