World Triathlon has opened applications for its 2021 Athlete Scholarship Programme. This is meant to identify and provide support, resources and expertise to athletes from developing or emerging national federations (with the greatest needs – in order to help them compete at Continental and World level over the Olympic Qualification Period and help their preparation and qualification for the upcoming Olympic Games and beyond.
Athletes selected for the World Triathlon Athlete Scholarship Programme will be carefully ‘placed’ in a programme commensurate with their specific needs in the interest of their progressive development to an elite level.
Placements will vary in duration and form depending on the specific outline of the programme developed by the national federations (NF) in conjunction with the World Triathlon Development deemed to be conducive to the athlete’s development needs.
The target group will be athletes from developing national federations who have already shown competence at a Continental and World level and are looking to make the step up to top-level training and racing but need support to do so.
These athletes should be seen as Olympic prospects (Tokyo 2020 & Paris 2024) by their NFs. The athletes will be drawn primarily from U23 and elite ranks, but junior athletes can also be considered as part of the next generation for the future.
In order to be eligible and apply for the scholarship, athletes must be registered and in good standing with their national federations and have shown the ability to race at a high standard in Continental and World Cup level competition. The athletes nominated by their NFs should be committed to competing in the long term and have the Olympic Games as an ultimate objective.
World Triathlon Development will consider the following criteria in the selection process:
- Top 5 placing at Continental Championship in Elite, U23 or Junior category in the past two years among the developing/emerging NFs (NF Groups: 2, 3B, 3A).
- Must be from an emerging/developing National Federation (NF Groups: 2, 3B, 3A).
All applications will be considered in conjunction with a strong endorsement from the athlete’s NF.
The applications should be submitted to the World Triathlon Development team (development[at[triathlon.org) no later than Friday, April 9, 2021.
Successful applicants will be informed within a week after the application deadline, and World Triathlon Development will coordinate the plans with the successful athletes and their NFs.
All applications must be submitted by the respective national federation of the applicant. The NF must be in good standing with World Triathlon and submit the annual World Triathlon National Federation Survey.
The athletes selected will be tracked for the duration of the placement, and regular reporting will be required from the candidates and their personal coaches.
Athletes who receive a World Triathlon Athlete Scholarship will be required to compete in the Continental Championships (Elite, U23, Junior) and/or the World Championships (U23, Junior) in the year of receiving the scholarship.
All recipients must make themselves available (within reason and without interfering with the athlete’s training, racing or school commitments) for interviews and photo sessions to promote the programme in their own country and internationally.
All recipients must either organise or be involved in a community or youth triathlon project within their home NF within their scholarship year and submit a detailed report to World Triathlon Development within two weeks of the project taking place.
World Triathlon Athlete Scholarship holders in 2020:
Antoanela MANAC (ROU)
Badr SIWANE (MAR)
Basmla ELSALAMONEY (EGY)
Diego MOYA (CHI)
Juan Jose ANDRADE FIGUEROA (ECU)
Kaidi KIVIOJA (EST)
Luis Felipe BARRAZA ROJAS (CHI)
Mehdi ESSADIQ (MAR)
Mohamad ALSABBAGH (SYR)
Mohamad MASO (SYR)
Ognjen STOJANOVIC (SRB)
Romina Natali BIAGIOLI (ARG)
World Triathlon Athlete Scholarship holders in 2019:
Antoanela Manac (ROM)
Brian Moya (COL)
Erica Hawley (BER)
Kaidi Kivioja (EST)
Kim Marion Mangrobang (PHI)
Matthew Wright (BAR)
Ognjen Stojanovic (SER)
Tyler Smith (BER)
World Triathlon Athlete Scholarship holders in 2018:
Armando Matute (ECU)
Brian Moya (COL)
Diana Castillo (COL)
Edda Hannesdottir (ISL)
Erica Hawley (BER)
Juan José Andrade Figueroa (ECU)
Kaidi Kivioja (EST)
Matthew Wright (BAR)
Mikita Bely (BLR)
Mikita Katsianeu (BLR)
Ognjen Stojanovic (SER)
Tyler Smith (BER)
