IOC Approves LA28 Triathlon Qualification
World Triathlon said the executive board of the International Olympic Committee has approved the qualification system for the triathlon events at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, introducing changes aimed at increasing global representation.
Triathlon at LA28 will again feature three medal events – men’s individual, women’s individual and the mixed relay – with a total quota of 110 athletes, split evenly between men and women, the governing body said.
The qualification period will run from May 18, 2026, to May 18, 2028.
World Triathlon president Antonio Arimany said the revised system expanded opportunities for developing nations, citing changes to the so-called “New Flag” pathway.
Qualification will be determined through a combination of mixed relay and individual pathways.
The host nation, the United States, is guaranteed two men and two women for the mixed relay event, provided it has eligible athletes.
The winners of the 2026 and 2027 World Triathlon Mixed Relay Championships will each secure four quota places – two men and two women – for their national Olympic committees.
A further 16 men’s and 16 women’s places will be allocated via the World Triathlon Mixed Relay Olympic Qualification Ranking, with continental representation applied where nations are not already qualified.
Through the host and mixed relay pathways, 22 of the 55 places per gender will be allocated.
An additional 21 places per gender will be awarded through the Individual Olympic Qualification Ranking as of May 18, 2028.
For nations that have already secured places through host or mixed relay qualification, their top-ranked athletes will not be considered for these individual spots.
A key change for the LA28 cycle is the expansion of the “New Flag” pathway, which will now provide two dedicated qualification places per continent – one via continental games and one via world rankings – for nations otherwise not qualified. Up to ten athletes could qualify through this route.
Athletes must be born on or before December 31, 2010, represent the same national federation throughout the qualification period, and be ranked inside the world top 160 by the end of qualification.
