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USA Triathlon to Issue Full Refunds for Athletes Affected by 2025 Sprint and Paratriathlon Nationals Cancellation

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by USA Triathlon

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Triathlon today announced that all athletes registered for the 2025 USA Triathlon Sprint National Championships and Paratriathlon National Championships will receive a full refund of their registration fees, following the cancellation of the event on Aug. 10 due to an unprecedented weather event that impacted the City of Milwaukee and surrounding communities.  

Affected athletes will receive a full refund of their 2025 registration. This includes:  

  • Event registration fees - including service fees and taxes on registration  
  • Sprint-only FinisherPix packages   
  • Refund Protect (if unused)   

Additionally, there was a significant prize purse available for the Paratriathlon National Championship. USA Triathlon is committed to awarding this prize purse to our dedicated paratriathletes and guides as part of our ongoing commitment to serve our athletes and community. More information on distribution will be coming later this week. 

“The disappointment of the cancellation of the Sprint and Paratriathlon National Championships was felt across our USA Triathlon team and the multisport community,” said USA Triathlon CEO Victoria Brumfield. “While the cancellation was not the outcome any of us wanted, we are committed to our values of service and accountability, and we are proud to offer full refunds and honor prize money for our paratriathletes. Thank you, athletes, for your patience, understanding, and continued support as we have navigated the aftermath of this unfortunate cancellation. We can’t wait to return to Milwaukee in 2026 for USA Triathlon Nationals and cheer for all athletes as they cross the finish line. Our commitment remains to serve our athletes and the multisport community. This decision reflects our dedication to integrity, accountability, and supporting our athletes through challenging times." 

A decision guided by values

Refunds are not standard for USA Triathlon National Championship events, as USA Triathlon’s standard waiver does not allow for deferrals, refunds, or credits. But this unprecedented situation called for something more.  

Thanks to proactive planning and a secured event cancellation insurance policy, USA Triathlon can issue refunds to all athletes affected by the cancellation. Over the past two weeks, USA Triathlon’s staff and partners have been working through the complex logistics and claims process to make these refunds possible.  

Refunds will be processed automatically, with no action required by athletes. For further questions or information, athletes can email USA Triathlon’s dedicated Service Team at service@usatriathlon.org.   

Looking ahead to 2026

USA Triathlon has also implemented a modified Age Group Team USA qualification pathway for the 2026 World Championships to ensure no athlete loses an opportunity because of the cancellation of the Sprint National Championships. Athletes can review the new qualification details for the 2026 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain, here.  

Athletes registered for the 2025 Sprint and Paratriathlon National Championships are automatically qualified for the 2026 USA Triathlon Sprint and Paratriathlon National Championships, which return to Milwaukee. Early-bird pricing for 2026 is open and extended exclusively to affected 2025 athletes for a limited time.  

Qualified athletes can check their emails for their registration link.   

2025 Sprint National Championship Cancellation Frequent Questions #

What races were cancelled and why? #

All impacted athletes from Sunday’s Sprint Distance National Championships and Paratriathlon National Championship events will receive refunds for their registration, service fees and taxes, along with select other add-ons. (see details below). Athletes who were able to participate in the Open Water Swim competition on Friday, Aug. 8, or the Olympic Distance National Championships on Saturday, Aug. 9, will not be refunded as they were able to participate as planned. 

Who will be receiving refunds?  #

All impacted athletes from Sunday’s Sprint Distance National Championships and Paratriathlon National Championship events will receive refunds for their registration, service fees and taxes, along with select other add-ons. (see details below). Athletes who were able to participate in the Open Water Swim competition on Friday, Aug. 8, or the Olympic Distance National Championships on Saturday, Aug. 9, will not be refunded as they were able to participate as planned.

What do I need to do to receive my refund? #

No action is required. USA Triathlon is working with our registration platform TicketSocket to automatically process refunds for all athletes registered for Sunday’s races. Due to the type and scope of these refunds, we will be doing them individually and manually.  

What is included in my refund? #
  • Event registration fees, including service fees and taxes 
  • Sprint-only FinisherPix packages 
  • Refund Protect (if unused)
What is not included in my refund? #
  • USA Triathlon Foundation VIP Tickets/Packages
  • Parking Passes 
  • Ancillary service fees and taxes on other packages or add-ons
When will I receive my refund? #

Our team is working diligently to complete the refund process as quickly as possible. Because of the volume of registrations and the administrative steps involved, it will likely take a few weeks for all refunds to be completed. We expect all processing to be complete from the USA Triathlon side by mid-September. Processing times may also vary based on your financial institution and original form of payment. 

You will receive an email confirmation once the process has been initiated from USA Triathlon. 

How long will early bird pricing for 2026 be available? #

We will only extend early bird pricing for a few days, available to those athletes already qualified or impacted by the cancellation. We recommend purchasing quickly to ensure the lowest price! 

The Olympic Award Ceremony was cancelled, could my Age Group Award be shipped to me? #

Yes, we will be sending out an email next week to those athletes in the Olympic Distance race who did not receive their Age Group Award and can request one to be shipped to them. 

Do I have to requalify for next year’s Sprint Nationals? #

No, anyone who qualified and registered for this year’s event will automatically qualify for next year’s race.

Age Group Team USA Qualification Criteria Frequent Questions #

I am interested in Team USA – how will the qualifications change based on the cancellation of the Sprint race? #

USA Triathlon is committed to ensuring fair qualification opportunities following the cancellation of the Sprint and Para National Championships. Athletes can qualify for the 2026 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain, through two paths: 

Criteria #1: Olympic-distance athletes who finished in the top 50% of their age group and were registered for the Sprint will automatically receive a qualification email 

Criteria #2 (Deadline - Dec. 31): Sprint-registered athletes may also qualify by demonstrating a top 25% finish in another 2025 sprint race. To submit your results, please complete this form. Our team will verify submissions and send qualification letters once confirmed.

Other questions on Age Group Team USA can be directed to teamusa@usatriathlon.org

Do the two modified qualification criteria have a defined order or priority? #

Athletes may qualify by either path; both are treated equally.

Is there a cap on how many spots are available based on the modified criteria? #

No, there is not a cap on the available spots based on these modified criteria. We have worked with World Triathlon to secure additional spots if needed, based on the unprecedented weather event that impacted the Sprint National Championship race.

How will you determine a top 25% finish for qualification Criteria #2? #

Results submitted through THIS FORM will be verified by USA Triathlon. To do so, we will calculate your finish percentage by dividing your placement by the total number of finishers in your age group, then rounding to the nearest whole number. Qualification emails will be sent once results have been confirmed.

Will Super Sprint races apply toward qualification Criteria #2?  #

Super Sprint races will not apply. Only races marked as Sprint distance in our systems will be eligible. Please reach out to teamusa@usatriathlon.org if you have questions on whether a specific race is eligible.

What if there are no additional Sprint races in my area to race in 2025? #

There are still many 2025 sprint races across the country. Search for an event near you by using USA Triathlon’s Find a Race tool. Additionally, several race directors across the country have generously stepped up to provide discounts to their upcoming events for athletes affected by the cancellation. These events are listed HERE 

Athletes also have the opportunity to qualify through the standard year-end rankings process. Any athlete who finishes in the top 20 of their respective age group in the annual year-end (12/31) USA Triathlon National Rankings from the previous year after already qualified Team USA athletes have been removed is eligible to claim a spot on Team USA. 

The highest ranked athletes will have first priority to accept a Team USA spot, followed by 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc., (rolling down through the top 20 athletes who have not already been offered a spot).

About USA Triathlon 

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 3,500 events and races and connects with and supports more than 300,000 unique active members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.