According to USA Triathlon, an athlete must meet one of six criteria to apply for elite status: finish within 8 percent of the winning elite time in three USA Triathlon-sanctioned events; finish in the top 10 and within 8 percent of the winner’s time at the International Triathlon Union Age Group World Championships; finish in the top 10 in the amateur field at the Ironman World Championship; finish in the top five and within 8 percent of the winning time at the USAT Age Group National Championships; finish in the top five and within 8 percent of the winning time at the USAT Collegiate National Championships; or finish in the top three in the amateur field at an Elite Qualifying Race.
So in the UK
1. Finish in the top 10 and within 8 percent of the winner’s time at the ITU AG Group World Championships
2. Finish in the top 5 and within 8 percent of the winning time at the ETU AG European Championships
3. Top 3 in the National Championships AND within 5% of winning time of your AG’s elite winner (as defined by above 2 criteria).
Thoughts? I invented the last one! but it seems reasonable.
Source: livestrong.com
Related articles
- Again a Brownlee is triathlon champion (utsandiego.com)
Last Updated on 11 April 2026 by the5krunner
My favourite kit and nutrition
- Injinji – Runners protect your toes. Avoid discomfort and minor injury. Run more. Run faster. I use them.
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter — A small keyring adapter you can use anywhere. Essential when away. I use one.
- Garmin charging puck — the fastest and most reliable way to top up your Garmin before a session. I use one.
- Ravemen FR300 — Front light that mounts directly under your Garmin or Wahoo head unit. Keeps your bars clean and your beam pointed where it matters. I use one.
- Body Glide – The blue anti-chafe stick that all swimmers and many runners use. I use it.
- Maurten — The race nutrition trusted by elite athletes. Gels and drink mixes engineered to be easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin Varia RTL515 — A radar rear light that alerts you to vehicles approaching from behind. Pairs with your Edge or Wahoo. I use this model.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2 — The power-meter pedals most serious cyclists choose. Accurate, easy to move between bikes. I use this model.
- Garmin Forerunner 970 — A serious choice for a pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Polar H10 — My daily driver for accurate, waking HRV readings.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3 — The bike computer that has the feature Garmin lacks: usability. I use mine on most rides.
Reader-Powered Content
This content is not sponsored. It’s mostly me behind the labour of love, which is this site, and I appreciate everyone who supports it.
Support the site: Follow (free, fewer ads) · Subscribe (paid, ad-free) · Buy Me A Coffee ❤️
All articles are written by real people, fact-checked, and verified for originality. See the Editorial Policy. FTC: Affiliate Disclosure — some links pay commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
I always wondered how an elite become an elite. Great info and thanks for summarizing and posting.