2026 USA Triathlon Nationals

750-meter Open Water Swim, Presented by Synergy, in Lake Michigan, open to all, no qualification required. 

Draft-Legal Sprint Triathlon National Championships (750 swim, 20k bike, 5k run) open to all, no qualification required.

The action continues with the Olympic-Distance National Championships (1,500m swim, 40k bike, 10k run) for athletes who have qualified to compete. This event is non-draft. 

The Mixed Relay Triathlon National Championships (225m swim, 4.3k bike, .8k run) open to all, no qualification required. Order of athletes must be female-male-female-male. 

Also offered will be an Adaptive Mixed Relay Triathlon consisting of two able-bodied athletes and two adaptive athletes (must be two male and two female competing in the order of female-male-female-male) 

 The final day will feature the Sprint National Championships (750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run) and the USA Paratriathlon National Championships, bringing elite and developing paratriathletes together to compete for national titles. Both events are non-draft and both events require qualification.  

The 2026 qualification period runs from June 1, 2025 to July 30, 2026. If you hit one or more of the qualification marks below, you've qualified for 2026 USA Triathlon Nationals for races that require qualification!

Note: The qualification period for 2027 runs June 1, 2026, to July 30, 2027. If you earn a qualifying mark on a day that's in both qualification periods (June 1, 2026 - July 30, 2026), you've qualified for both years' Nationals in events requiring qualification.

Only individual-category participants qualify for Nationals. Elite and Relay categories do not qualify.

Qualification is based on an athlete's age-group finish only

• However, if an athlete wins an overall award and is subsequently removed from their event's age group, they will be placed back into the age group for qualifications and rankings purposes.

Qualification Process

If you have qualified through the below criteria, you will automatically receive a “You’ve Qualified” email from USA Triathlon after race results have been submitted. Your registration link is in that email. You may also log in to your Member Hub to see a notification with your registration link. That link will be valid until registration closes.

If you're expecting a qualification email but it hasn't yet arrived, check your email that is associated with your USA Triathlon account, including the spam/junk folder. If it still hasn't arrived, wait at least 20 days before contacting USA Triathlon as Race Directors have 10 days after an event to submit results. Also note that:

1. Athletes in your age group may have been removed for an overall award and placed back into their age group for qualification and rankings purposes.
2. If you competed in an elite, open or relay wave at an event, you cannot qualify through that event. The only category you can compete in to qualify is an age group category.
3. Events must be USA Triathlon Sanctioned in order to qualify for USA Triathlon Sprint and Olympic Distance National Championships.

You may qualify through any local USA Triathlon Sanctioned age group triathlon of any distance, including Cross and Gravel triathlons (excludes Winter Triathlon). These events include all non-championship events. To qualify, you must place in the top three places or top 20% of your age group (whichever is greater). Placing via this criteria qualifies you for both Sprint AND Olympic Distance National Championships.

Additionally, any athlete who previously qualified for the 2025 USA Triathlon Sprint and Olympic Distance National Championships through an event in 2025 will automatically qualify for 2026.

Note: USA Triathlon will round to the next whole number for qualification calculations.

State championships qualify the top 35% or top five (5) finishers in an age group (whichever is greater). You may only qualify for Olympic distance Nationals by placing in the Olympic distance State Championship race or Sprint Nationals by placing in the sprint distance State Championship race.

High School State Championships Exemption: All high school athletes who finish any of the State High School Championships will automatically qualify for the Sprint distance event (pending they are at least age 15 as of December 31, 2025.)

Any athlete who competed as a member of Team USA in 2025 or 2026 in any discipline will automatically qualify. Qualification cannot be met from participation more than one year prior.

For more information on 2025-2026 Team USA Qualification information, click here.

All USA Triathlon Platinum Members will automatically qualify.

In 2025, Clydesdale and Athena athletes will compete in their respective divisions for the championship races and will not start in age group waves. Clydesdale and Athena athletes will remain eligible for awards in their respective five-year age group and Team USA qualification, but will also be eligible for a separate set of awards placing just Clydesdale and Athena athletes per the identification noted during registration. Clydesdale and Athena athletes must also complete the weigh-in procedure, which will happen at Packet Pick-Up prior to racing to remain eligible.

Clydesdale and Athena athletes must still qualify for Sprint and Olympic Distance races per the qualification paths noted above.

2026 Registration Coming Soon!

Note: Please ensure you've reviewed the Paratriathlon Nationals registration requirements above before registering.

Paratriathlon Nationals is headed back to Milwaukee to be held in conjunction with USA Triathlon Sprint and Olympic-Distance National Championships!

Any athlete that wishes to compete in the National Championship division at Paratriathlon Nationals must be officially classified and placed in a USA Paratriathlon Category as outlined in USA Triathlon’s Competitive Rules. If an athlete does not classify or does not qualify via the time standards, they may race in the Adaptive Triathlon Division 1 (ATD1).

Once you have met the qualifying time for your sport class, please email Chris Palmquist and Auburn Bosworth with your race results, race distance, and race dates to be authorized to register for the 2026 Paratriathlon National Championships in the championship division.

The USA Paratriathlon Nationals Qualifier Series is the premiere national-level racing circuit for up-and-coming paratriathletes in the United States. The aim of the series is to provide increased domestic competitive opportunities for the nation’s emerging paratriathletes. The Paratriathlon National Qualifier Race Series provides paratriathletes and ATD1 athletes opportunities to race sprint distance races following USAT and World Triathlon paratriathlon competition rules. These races also offer a chance to qualify for the 2025 and 2026 USAT Paratriathlon National Championships with slightly more generous time standards than at other USAT-sanctioned races.

Post-race, athletes accumulating points in a minimum of two series races and Nationals will receive series rankings. Top-ranked athletes will be awarded a sponsor-provided prize (details forthcoming) and recognized in our newsletter, website, and social media channels.

To work toward your series standings and qualifying for Paratriathlon National Championships, sign up for your races now!

More information about the USA Paratriathlon Nationals Qualifier Series can be found here.

Check out the 2025 race schedule!

• Athlete must be eligible under all applicable rules of World Triathlon (www.triathlon.org), the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (www.usada.org), and USA Triathlon.
• Athlete must be an annual member in good standing of USA Triathlon.
• Paratriathlon Category Classification: Each athlete must be Officially Classified and placed in a USA Paratriathlon Category as outlined in USA Triathlon’s Competitive Rules.

• PTWC - Wheelchair users. Athletes must use a recumbent handcycle on the bike course and a racing wheelchair on the run segment
• PTS2 - Severe Impairments. In both bike and run segments, amputee athletes may use approved prosthesis or other supportive devices.
• PTS3 – Significant Impairments. In both bike and run segments, the athlete may use approved prosthesis or other supportive devices.
• PTS4 – Moderate Impairments. In both bike and run segments, the athlete may use approved prosthesis or other supportive devices.
• PTS5 – Mild Impairments. In both bike and run segments, the athlete may use approved prosthesis or other supportive device.
• PTVI - Total or Partial visual Impairment (IBSA/IPC defined sub-classes B1, B2, and B3): Includes athletes who are totally blind, from no light perception in either eye, to some light perception (B1) and partially sighted athletes (B2, B3). One guide is mandatory throughout the race. Must ride a tandem during the bike segment.

Find more information on 2025 qualifying standards here.

Challenged Athletes Foundation is offering travel grants for Paratriathlon Nationals. Submissions are due by July 20 and USAT will notify CAF grant recipients by July 31. You will need to have registered for Paratriathlon Nationals and confirmed you will be participating at Paratriathlon Nationals or in the adaptive divisions. This grant is for travel, lodging or race entry. The athlete must compete at the event and reimbursement will be coordinated after the race. USA Triathlon National and Junior U23 Team members are not eligible for this grant.

Apply Today!

Texas Parasport

Texas Parasport is offering a National Championship Grant to support athletes of all ages training and competing at the highest level. Athletes attending Paratriathlon National Championship can apply for this grant. The max amount of each grant is $500.

Criteria:

• You must reside in Texas.
• You must have a Paralympic eligible disability.
• You must participate in weekly programs within Texas.
• You must compete at Texas Parasport Games if your sport is offered.
• Grant recipients will wear Texas Parasport apparel while at the event in which we are supporting and thank Texas Parasport on social media.

Please email Jenn Weatherford for application details.

Catapult Grant Program

Team Catapult's athlete grant program aids athletes with physical disabilities in costs related to the world of adaptive sports and can be used toward equipment, race entry or travel costs. For more information click here and email hello@teamcatapult.org. As the main support for the Paratriathlon Nationals Qualifier Series race, Lago Mar, Catapult will also be offering a hotel stipend for athletes participating in this excellent Texas race! Email Linda Fox at linda@teamcatapult.org and hello@teamcatapult.org to confirm your interest.

*If an athlete has not been classified and unsure what sport class they fit into, please email Paratriathlon@usatriathlon.org with the medical diagnosis form available on our website and we will make an educated guess as to which sport class the athlete fits until a classification assessment can take place

**All final determinations on sport class and qualification will be determined at the national classification opportunity in the days leading into the event. Please note there is a chance that if an athlete changes sport classes from the educated guess they will need to show proof of a qualification race in the new sport class within the specified qualification time.

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