A transparent, organization-neutral ranking framework for professional long-course triathlon. Every score is reproducible. Every component is public.
9,328
Race scores computed
256,769
Athletes ranked
How It Works
Every race generates a score for each finisher. That score is built from three weighted components that together capture where you placed, who you raced against, and how fast you went.
Race Score = (0.35 × Position) + (0.35 × SOF) + (0.30 × Time)
Race Position
Where you finished. Higher tiers award more base points with a gentler drop-off per position.
Strength of Field
How strong was the competition? Average of the top 5 ranked starters' scores. Same for every finisher.
Race Time
How fast did you go relative to the field? Faster than baseline earns bonus points. Slower deducts.
Event Classification
Each eligible race is assigned a tier based on championship status, historical significance, and competitive depth — not prize money or branding.
100
base points
The pinnacle of long-course triathlon
IRONMAN World Championship
95
base points
World championships & season-defining finals
70.3 World Championship, T100 Final, Challenge Roth
90
base points
Premier professional circuit events
T100 World Tour, IRONMAN Pro Series
80
base points
Established international races
Component 1 of 3
The winner receives the full base points for the tier. Each subsequent position drops by the tier's drop-off percentage from the previous position.
Position Score = Base × (1 − Drop-off%)Position − 1
| Pos | Diamond | Platinum | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100.00 | 95.00 | 90.00 | 80.00 | 70.00 |
| 2 | 98.00 | 93.10 | 85.50 | 73.60 | 62.30 |
Component 2 of 3
SOF measures the competitive quality of a race's start list. It's the same score for every finisher in the race — rewarding athletes who show up to stacked fields.
SOF = (Top 5 ranked starters' ORS scores) ÷ 5
Only athletes who start count. DNS excluded, DNF included.
Uses ORS scores at official race start time. No retroactive recalculation.
Fewer than 5 ranked starters? Missing slots = 0. Always divide by 5.
Example Calculation
Component 3 of 3
Measures individual performance quality relative to the field. This component rewards exceptional race execution — not just finishing position.
Establish Baseline Score
Baseline Score = (Tier Base Points + SOF) ÷ 2
Calculate Baseline Time
Average finishing time of the top N finishers, scaled by field size:
4 or fewer
Winner only
5 – 8
Top 2
9 – 12
Top 3
13 – 16
Top 4
More than 16
Top 5
Score Each Athlete
Time Score = max(0, Baseline Score − (% slower × 600))
+6
From Races to Rankings
An athlete's ranking score is the average of their best 4 race scores within a rolling 52-week window. This rewards both consistency and peak performance.
Ranking Score = (Best 4 Race Scores in 52-week window) ÷ 4
4
Best scores
52 wk
Window
Weekly
Update
M / W
Divisions
Example
5 scores in window: 89.2, 84.7, 81.3, 76.5, 72.1
Best 4: 89.2 + 84.7 + 81.3 + 76.5 ÷ 4 = 82.93
Only 2 scores: 91.0, 85.0, 0, 0
91.0 + 85.0 + 0 + 0 ÷ 4 = 44.00
Eligibility
A race qualifies for ORS scoring if all of the following are true:
Non-drafting triathlon format
Olympic distance (1.5km / 40km / 10km) or longer
Minimum prize purse of $10,000 USD
Gender-equal prize distribution
Legitimate professional field
Eligible organizations: IRONMAN, IRONMAN 70.3, Challenge Family, T100 World Tour, and independent races meeting all criteria.
Policies
Shortened Races
Still scored. Tier not adjusted. Official times used as published. Each race scored in isolation.
DNF / DNS
DNF: Counts toward SOF if ranked. No race score.
DNS: Does not count toward SOF. No race score.
Tie-Breaking
Historical Data
The ORS is applied retroactively from the 2024 season onward. Since no ORS scores exist at the start of 2024, SOF uses a flat seed value based on the race's tier. From 2025 onward, real accumulated scores are used.
| Tier | 2024 SOF Seed |
|---|---|
| Diamond | 90 |
| Platinum | 85 |
| Gold | 75 |
| Silver | 60 |
| Bronze | 45 |
Reference
| Position Weight | 35% |
| SOF Weight | 35% |
| Time Weight | 30% |
| Points per 1% Faster/Slower | ±6 points |
| Best Scores Used | 4 |
| Rolling Window | 52 weeks |
| Minimum Prize Purse | $10,000 USD |
| Gender-Equal Purse | Required |
| Minimum Distance | Olympic (1.5 / 40 / 10 km) |
| SOF Starters Used | Top 5 |
| Ranking Update | Weekly |
| Divisions | Men's / Women's (independent) |
Other IRONMAN events, Challenge Championship
70
base points
Professional non-drafting events
Challenge Family, Independent races
| 3 | 96.04 | 91.24 | 81.22 | 67.71 | 55.45 |
| 4 | 94.12 | 89.41 | 77.16 | 62.30 | 49.35 |
| 5 | 92.24 | 87.62 | 73.31 | 57.31 | 43.92 |
| 6 | 90.39 | 85.87 | 69.64 | 52.73 | 39.09 |
| 7 | 88.58 | 84.16 | 66.16 | 48.51 | 34.79 |
| 8 | 86.81 | 82.47 | 62.85 | 44.63 | 30.96 |
| 9 | 85.08 | 80.82 | 59.71 | 41.06 | 27.56 |
| 10 | 83.37 | 79.21 | 56.72 | 37.77 | 24.52 |
points per 1% faster
−6
points per 1% slower
Transparency
Fully formula-based. No discretionary adjustments. No mid-season changes to weights or tiers. Annual methodology review during off-season.