ITU launches the 2020 Athlete Scholarship Programme

The ITU is proud to announce the opening of applications for the 2020 Athlete Scholarship Programme, meant to identify and provide support, resources and expertise to athletes from developing or emerging National Federations with the greatest needs to compete at Continental and World level over the Olympic Qualification and help their preparation and qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and beyond.

Athletes selected for the ITU 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 NF in conjunction with the ITU Development deemed to be conducive to the athlete’s development needs.

The target group will be athletes from developing National Federations (NF Group 1, 2, 3) 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 the support in order to do so. These athletes should be seen as Olympic prospects (Tokyo 2020 & Paris 2024) by their National Federation. The athletes will be drawn primarily from U23 and Elite ranks, but junior athletes can be also 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 National Federations should be committed to competing in the long term and have the Olympic Games as an ultimate objective.

The following criteria will be considered by the ITU Development 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 Group 1, 2, 3).
• Must be from an emerging/developing National Federation (NF Group 1, 2, 3).
All applications will be considered in conjunction with a strong endorsement from the athlete’s National Federation.

The applications should be submitted to the ITU Development (development@triathlon.org) no later than Friday 31 January 2020. Successful applicants will be informed within a week after the application deadline and ITU Development will coordinate the plans with the successful athletes and their NFs.

PLEASE NOTE: All applications MUST be submitted by the respective National Federation of the applicant. The National Federation must be in good standing with ITU and submit the annual ITU World Triathlon National Federation Survey.

Successful applicants will receive the following:
• The amount of funding allocated to each athlete depends on the programme outline submitted by the NF for each candidate.

The ITU Athlete Scholarship is entitled to be used for the followings as per defined in the athlete’s 2020 planning and approved by ITU Development:

- Participation (travel, accommodation) at qualification races on the way to Tokyo 2020 and beyond
- Training camps,
- Massage, Physiotherapy,
- Equipment support.

Evaluation and Requirements of Recipients
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 an ITU Athlete Scholarship will be required to compete in the Continental Championship in the year of receiving the scholarship.

All recipients must make themselves available (within reason and without interfering with the athletes training, racing and 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 ITU Development within 2 weeks of the project taking place.

Download the Application Form here.

ITU 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)