Q. What is the IRONMAN Lottery Program?
A mainstay in the history of IRONMAN, the IRONMAN Lottery began in 1983 thanks to the vision of one of IRONMAN's founders, John Collins, as a way to provide athletes of all abilities the opportunity to qualify for the world's most challenging one-day endurance event.

In 1990, IRONMAN enhanced the Lottery Program by establishing the Passport Club and is opened to all athletes worldwide. The Passport Club offers an increased chance of being selected through the Lottery.

In 2012 the IRONMAN Lottery began the process of selecting 100 general Age Group athletes, 100 Legacy athletes plus five Physically Challenged athletes, to compete in the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i. IRONMAN Lottery rules allow one entry per athlete, duplicate entries are not valid (Passport membership is the only way to obtain two separate valid entries).

Q. When does the IRONMAN Lottery open?
Registration for the 2013 IRONMAN Lottery and Legacy Program is now open!

Q. What is the 2013 Lottery entry fee?
The 2013 Lottery entry fee is $40 USD.

Q. Are there any changes to the 2013 IRONMAN Lottery?
New for 2013, and moving forward, athletes must have consecutive entries, year-over-year, to maintain credit from previous years. For example, if an athlete had registered for the IRONMAN Lottery six times between 2004 and now, the athlete must enter the Lottery in 2013 to continue to maintain credit for the previous six entries. Should the athlete choose to not enter the IRONMAN Lottery in 2013, but reapply in 2014, the athlete would then only have credit for the one entry in 2014.

Q. What are the eligibility requirements for the 2013 IRONMAN Legacy Program?
To enroll athletes must meet all four of the following requirements*:

1.       Athlete must have completed a minimum of twelve (12) full-distance IRONMAN-branded** races (includes existing and past events) by December 31, 2012.

2.       Athlete has never participated in the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i.

3.       Athlete must have completed at least one full-distance IRONMAN event in 2011 and 2012.

4.       Athlete must be registered for a full-distance IRONMAN event in 2013.

*Legacy athletes will be required to submit their information during online registration.
**2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run

Q. If I am selected and compete in the IRONMAN World Championship, am I eligible to reapply for the IRONMAN Legacy Program in future years?
No, once you have competed in the IRONMAN World Championship, you are no longer eligible to enroll in the IRONMAN Legacy Program.

Q. If I am not selected in the 2013 IRONMAN Legacy Program, can I reapply in the future?
Yes, qualified athletes who are not selected in 2013 can reapply for the IRONMAN Legacy Program each year.

Q. Can I enter the general IRONMAN Lottery more than once?  Can I get a second chance?
An athlete can only register for the IRONMAN Lottery once per year.  Duplicate entries will not be valid.  If you register for the IRONMAN Lottery and join the Passport Club, you will receive two valid chances to be selected. Note that the Passport Club is the only way to obtain a valid second entry.

Q. If I have applied for the general IRONMAN Lottery in the past, do I have an increased chance of being selected?
Beginning in 2012, athletes gained an increased chance of being selected for the IRONMAN Lottery based on the number of years that they have entered. For each year since 2004 that an athlete has registered for the IRONMAN Lottery, his or her chances increase accordingly.  For example, if an athlete has registered for every IRONMAN Lottery from 2004 through 2012, his or her chances of winning a Lottery entry to the 2012 IRONMAN World Championship will be eight (8) times greater than if he or she were registering for the IRONMAN Lottery for the first time in 2012. However, entrants must have consecutive entries, year-over-year, to maintain credit from previous years. For example, if an entrant had registered for the IRONMAN Lottery six times between 2004 and now, the entrant must enter the Lottery in 2013 to continue to maintain credit for the previous six entries. Should the entrant choose to not enter the IRONMAN Lottery in 2013, but reapply in 2014, the athlete would then only have credit for the one entry in 2014.

Q. If I am selected through the general IRONMAN Lottery, what do I do and how do I validate my entry?
Athletes who are selected through the IRONMAN Lottery must complete a branded IRONMAN or IRONMAN 70.3 event within one year of the 2013 IRONMAN World Championship to validate their Lottery slot. Lottery winners must complete a validating race by August 31, 2013, with all validating information submitted to Lottery@ironman.com by August 31, 2013. Failure to comply will result in the forfeiture of the Lottery slot.

Q. When will the winners of the 2013 IRONMAN Lottery and Legacy Program be announced?
Athletes selected will be announced on Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 12 p.m. ET.  Athletes will be notified via e-mail with directions on how to complete online registration.

Q. What is the IRONMAN Lottery refund policy?
Refunds, transfers or deferrals are NOT permitted. 

Q. If I win a general IRONMAN Lottery slot, but can’t compete in 2013, can I use it the following year?
No, general IRONMAN Lottery slots are only good for the year in which they are won and may not be deferred for a future event

Q. Who does the 2013 IRONMAN Lottery selection?
IRONMAN uses an independent third party to perform the Lottery selection.

Q. Who does the 2013 IRONMAN Legacy Program selection?
Winners will be selected by WTC and must meet the requirements listed above.

Q. What is the entry fee for the 2013 IRONMAN World Championship?
$775.00 USD

Q. 2013 IRONMAN World Championship Withdraw & Refund Policy:
Withdrawal requests must be received via e-mail to Kona@ironman.com.  Without exception, all withdrawal requests must be received by August 28, 2013 to be eligible for a partial refund of $175.00 (USD).  Partial refunds will not be issued for requests made after August 28, 2013.  Transfers or deferrals are not permitted.

Q. What are the requirements for the Physically Challenged Lottery?
Five names will be drawn for the 2013 IRONMAN World Championship from the total applicants applying in the Physically Challenged categories. The following defines the physically challenged divisions for the 2013 IRONMAN World Championship Lottery:

DIVISIONS
Lower Extremity - This includes single below-the-knee amputees, in which a standard bicycle is used, and run with prosthesis or crutches.

Wheelchair One - This division consists of single above-the-knee amputees who ride a standard bicycle, but use a racing chair on the run.

Wheelchair Two - This division consists of athletes who have double below-the-knee or a double above-the-knee amputation. These athletes ride a standard bicycle and use a racing chair on the run.

Upper Extremity - This is an athlete who has one arm amputated above or below the elbow, in which they will use prosthesis on the bike.

Visually Impaired - This is for athletes who are legally blind, 20/200 with best-corrected vision, requiring a guide throughout the race. If a guide is needed, they may use a tandem bike and may be tethered during the swim and the run.

Athletes are required to submit a medical description of physical disability from primary care physician.

Upon review of information received, all eligible athletes will be registered for the Physically Challenged Lottery. Any application received with incomplete information will not be processed for Lottery selection.  Any decision on whether or not an athlete meets the criteria for a specific division is at WTC’s sole discretion.  All athletes chosen will need to complete an IRONMAN or IRONMAN 70.3 branded event within one year of the 2013 IRONMAN World Championship.

Q. Are there Lottery slots for Handcycle athletes?
No. Physically challenged athletes who are paraplegic, quadriplegic or double above-the-knee amputees, and race using a hand cranked cycle on the bike segment and a racing chair for the run segment will be able to compete for two male slots and one female slot at both IRONMAN 70.3 Buffalo Springs Lake and IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship.