After 2020 saw a big dip in Professional triathlon racing and overall prize money, things have improved in 2021. Especially the second half of the year has seen big events and big purses. But things are not yet back to the pre-Corona 2019 numbers, for example prize money paid by WTC in Ironman and 70.3 3 events is still down by about 40% compared to 2019. This post looks at the overall trends and which athletes have been making good money in different categories.
If you want to check out the 2020 lists, you can find them in my post “Deep Dive Into 2020 Triathlon Money List“.
Money List – Overview
First, here is an overview of the races that are included in the money lists and comparisons to the 2020 and 2019 seasons. The totals are shown in US$, for races that paid their prize purse in a different currency the amounts have been converted into US$.
The big exception to overall lower numbers is the addition of the PTO. As when they have entered the scene in 2020, they are the biggest provider of “official prize money” in 2021 triathlon. With their plans of adding more big-paying races to the calendar, this will likely continue in 2022. An interesting question: Will this lead to increased purses by other race providers as well? For example, Ironman has increased the money for the Ironman World Championships for the first time since 2013, now paying an additional $100.000 and paying the Top 15 (instead of Top 10).
| Type | Description | Total Money 2021 |
Change to 2019 |
Total Money 2020 |
Total Money 2019 |
# Events (2019) |
| Ironman | WTC Ironman-branded races | $ 1.448.250 | -41% | $ 200.000 | $ 2.467.000 | 18 (32) |
| 70.3 | WTC 70.3-branded races | $ 1.246.750 | -42% | $ 233.900 | $ 2.152.750 | 29 (71) |
| PTO | PTO-supported races (incl. Bonus Pool) | $ 4.170.503 | 8%* | $ 3.846.316 | 11 (15*) | |
| Challenge | Challenge-branded full and half-distance races (incl. Bonus Pool) |
$ 843.516 | -7% | $ 16.614 | $ 909.586 | 19 (27) |
| ITU | ITU World Triathlon Championship Series (incl. Bonus Pool) |
$ 1.650.000 | -24% | $ 250.000 | $ 2.185.000 | 7 (9) |
| SuperLeague | SuperLeague Professional Events | $ 814.500 | -10% | $ 50.000 | $ 904.800 | 5 (4) |
| Other | Independent Races (e.g Embrun, XTerra World Championships, Alpe D’Huez) |
$ 406.769 | $ 15.822 | $ 624.877 | 10 (9) | |
| Total | $ 10.580.288 | 14% | $ 4.612.652 | $ 9.244.013 | 99 (152) |
* comparisons for PTO are to 2020 (the first year they have been active)
Overall Money List
Daniela Ryf has won five races this season and finished second in the PTO World Rankings. While she wasn’t able to secure another World title at 70.3 Worlds, she still was making good money in all her other events, just edging out Gustav Iden and Lucy Charles-Barclay as the top money winner. There was a total of 23 athletes who were able to make more than $100.000 this year, compared to 16 in 2019. There was a total of 647 athletes who were able to earn prize money in 2021.
Photo: Daniela on the bike leg at the Collins Cup, provided by the PTO
| # | Name | Gender | Total | PTO | WTC | Challenge | Short Course | Other |
| 1 | Ryf, Daniela | F | $ 244.000 | $ 180.000 | $ 64.000 | |||
| 2 | Iden, Gustav | M | $ 242.700 | $ 170.000 | $ 65.000 | $ 7.700 | ||
| 3 | Charles-Barclay, Lucy | F | $ 239.655 | $ 162.455 | $ 64.000 | $ 4.500 | $ 8.700 | |
| 4 | Knibb, Taylor | F | $ 221.900 | $ 91.000 | $ 23.000 | $ 107.900 | ||
| 5 | Sanders, Lionel | M | $ 215.000 | $ 160.000 | $ 50.500 | $ 4.500 | ||
| 6 | Frodeno, Jan | M | $ 190.859 | $ 180.000 | $ 10.859 | |||
| 7 | Haug, Anne | F | $ 186.853 | $ 130.000 | $ 3.000 | $ 53.853 | ||
| 8 | Long, Sam | M | $ 186.500 | $ 130.000 | $ 56.500 | |||
| 9 | Lange, Patrick | M | $ 180.994 | $ 105.000 | $ 25.000 | $ 50.994 | ||
| 10 | Blummenfelt, Kristian | M | $ 175.100 | $ 8.000 | $ 12.000 | $ 15.000 | $ 140.100 | |
| 11 | Duffy, Flora | F | $ 170.000 | $ 150.000 | $ 20.000 | |||
| 12 | Yee, Alex | M | $ 162.600 | $ 162.600 | ||||
| 13 | Skipper, Joe | M | $ 150.682 | $ 100.682 | $ 50.000 | |||
| 14 | Learmonth, Jessica | F | $ 130.700 | $ 130.700 | ||||
| 15 | Wilde, Hayden | M | $ 130.500 | $ 110.500 | $ 20.000 | |||
| 16 | Moench, Skye | F | $ 130.150 | $ 77.000 | $ 51.250 | $ 1.900 | ||
| 17 | Pallant-Browne, Emma | F | $ 129.500 | $ 95.000 | $ 31.000 | $ 3.500 | ||
| 18 | Taylor-Brown, Georgia | F | $ 124.900 | $ 124.900 | ||||
| 19 | Philipp, Laura | F | $ 120.500 | $ 80.000 | $ 40.500 | |||
| 20 | Baekkegard, Daniel | M | $ 117.500 | $ 85.000 | $ 32.500 | |||
| 21 | Matthews, Katrina | F | $ 113.400 | $ 70.000 | $ 42.000 | $ 1.400 | ||
| 22 | Metzler, Jeanni | F | $ 112.250 | $ 70.000 | $ 42.250 | |||
| 23 | Luis, Vincent | M | $ 102.500 | $ 5.000 | $ 97.500 | |||
| 24 | Lester, Carrie | F | $ 96.723 | $ 52.000 | $ 21.600 | $ 23.123 | ||
| 25 | Van Riel, Marten | M | $ 95.800 | $ 95.800 |
PTO Races
For all of 2021, Daniela Ryf and Jan Frodeno were either first or second in the PTO World Rankings, securing big paydays at the Collins Cup and in the PTO Bonus at the end of 2021. The PTO have paid money to 257 athletes in 2021.
Photo: Jan waiting for the start of his Collins Cup match, provided by the PTO
| # | Name | Gender | PTO | Total | Share |
| 1 | Ryf, Daniela | F | $ 180.000 | $ 244.000 | 74% |
| 1 | Frodeno, Jan | M | $ 180.000 | $ 190.859 | 94% |
| 3 | Iden, Gustav | M | $ 170.000 | $ 242.700 | 70% |
| 4 | Charles-Barclay, Lucy | F | $ 162.455 | $ 239.655 | 68% |
| 5 | Sanders, Lionel | M | $ 160.000 | $ 215.000 | 74% |
| 6 | Haug, Anne | F | $ 130.000 | $ 186.853 | 70% |
| 6 | Long, Sam | M | $ 130.000 | $ 186.500 | 70% |
| 8 | Lange, Patrick | M | $ 105.000 | $ 180.994 | 58% |
| 9 | Skipper, Joe | M | $ 100.682 | $ 150.682 | 67% |
| 10 | Pallant-Browne, Emma | F | $ 95.000 | $ 129.500 | 73% |
| 11 | Knibb, Taylor | F | $ 91.000 | $ 221.900 | 41% |
| 12 | Adam, Teresa | F | $ 88.000 | $ 90.658 | 97% |
| 13 | Baekkegard, Daniel | M | $ 85.000 | $ 117.500 | 72% |
| 14 | Philipp, Laura | F | $ 80.000 | $ 120.500 | 66% |
| 14 | Findlay, Paula | F | $ 80.000 | $ 88.500 | 90% |
| 16 | Moench, Skye | F | $ 77.000 | $ 130.150 | 59% |
| 17 | Lawrence, Holly | F | $ 75.000 | $ 95.750 | 78% |
| 18 | Kanute, Ben | M | $ 72.000 | $ 92.975 | 77% |
| 19 | Matthews, Katrina | F | $ 70.000 | $ 113.400 | 62% |
| 19 | Metzler, Jeanni | F | $ 70.000 | $ 112.250 | 62% |
WTC Races
The biggest 2021 money race by WTC was the 70.3 World Championships, and the male winner Gustav Iden tops the list of WTC money, closely followed by female winner Lucy Charles-Barclay. Daniela Ryf is also close to the top with two Ironman-distance wins. All in all, there were 401 athletes who earned prize money from WTC.
Photo: Gustav raising the St. George winner’s banner, provided by Ironman
| # | Name | Gender | IM | 70.3 | WTC | Total | Share |
| 1 | Iden, Gustav | M | $ 15.000 | $ 50.000 | $ 65.000 | $ 242.700 | 27% |
| 2 | Charles-Barclay, Lucy | F | $ 64.000 | $ 64.000 | $ 239.655 | 27% | |
| 2 | Ryf, Daniela | F | $ 40.000 | $ 24.000 | $ 64.000 | $ 244.000 | 26% |
| 4 | Long, Sam | M | $ 15.000 | $ 41.500 | $ 56.500 | $ 186.500 | 30% |
| 5 | Moench, Skye | F | $ 33.000 | $ 18.250 | $ 51.250 | $ 130.150 | 39% |
| 6 | Sanders, Lionel | M | $ 27.000 | $ 23.500 | $ 50.500 | $ 215.000 | 23% |
| 7 | Skipper, Joe | M | $ 50.000 | $ 50.000 | $ 150.682 | 33% | |
| 8 | Metzler, Jeanni | F | $ 42.250 | $ 42.250 | $ 112.250 | 38% | |
| 9 | Matthews, Katrina | F | $ 30.000 | $ 12.000 | $ 42.000 | $ 113.400 | 37% |
| 10 | Philipp, Laura | F | $ 37.000 | $ 3.500 | $ 40.500 | $ 120.500 | 34% |
| 11 | Jackson, Heather | F | $ 31.500 | $ 7.500 | $ 39.000 | $ 58.200 | 67% |
| 12 | Baekkegard, Daniel | M | $ 9.000 | $ 23.500 | $ 32.500 | $ 117.500 | 28% |
| 13 | Pallant-Browne, Emma | F | $ 31.000 | $ 31.000 | $ 129.500 | 24% | |
| 14 | van Berkel, Jan | M | $ 30.000 | $ 30.000 | $ 38.000 | 79% | |
| 15 | Lange, Patrick | M | $ 25.000 | $ 25.000 | $ 180.994 | 14% | |
| 15 | Nilsson, Patrik | M | $ 25.000 | $ 25.000 | $ 25.000 | 100% | |
| 17 | Wurf, Cameron | M | $ 22.000 | $ 2.000 | $ 24.000 | $ 33.825 | 71% |
| 18 | Svenningsson, Rasmus | M | $ 22.000 | $ 1.500 | $ 23.500 | $ 38.500 | 61% |
| 19 | Knibb, Taylor | F | $ 23.000 | $ 23.000 | $ 221.900 | 10% | |
| 19 | Hogenhaug, Kristian | M | $ 23.000 | $ 23.000 | $ 61.750 | 37% |
Ironman
Just looking at the Ironman-distance, with two wins (UK, Chattanooga), a second (Switzerland), a third (Lake Placid) and a 6th place (Tulsa) Joe Skipper is the top earner.
Photo: Joe on the bike at IM UK, provided by Ironman
| # | Name | Gender | IM | Total | Share |
| 1 | Skipper, Joe | M | $ 50.000 | $ 150.682 | 33% |
| 2 | Ryf, Daniela | F | $ 40.000 | $ 244.000 | 16% |
| 3 | Philipp, Laura | F | $ 37.000 | $ 120.500 | 31% |
| 4 | Moench, Skye | F | $ 33.000 | $ 130.150 | 25% |
| 5 | Jackson, Heather | F | $ 31.500 | $ 58.200 | 54% |
| 6 | Matthews, Katrina | F | $ 30.000 | $ 113.400 | 26% |
| 6 | van Berkel, Jan | M | $ 30.000 | $ 38.000 | 79% |
| 8 | Sanders, Lionel | M | $ 27.000 | $ 215.000 | 13% |
| 9 | Lange, Patrick | M | $ 25.000 | $ 180.994 | 14% |
| 9 | Nilsson, Patrik | M | $ 25.000 | $ 25.000 | 100% |
70.3
By winning 70.3 Elsinore in addition to 70.3 World Championships, Lucy Charles-Barclay was the top money-earner in 70.3 events:
Photo: Lucy celebrating her 70.3 World Championship win, provided by Ironman
| # | Name | Gender | 70.3 | Total | Share |
| 1 | Charles-Barclay, Lucy | F | $ 64.000 | $ 239.655 | 27% |
| 2 | Iden, Gustav | M | $ 50.000 | $ 242.700 | 21% |
| 3 | Metzler, Jeanni | F | $ 42.250 | $ 112.250 | 38% |
| 4 | Long, Sam | M | $ 41.500 | $ 186.500 | 22% |
| 5 | Pallant-Browne, Emma | F | $ 31.000 | $ 129.500 | 24% |
| 6 | Ryf, Daniela | F | $ 24.000 | $ 244.000 | 10% |
| 7 | Sanders, Lionel | M | $ 23.500 | $ 215.000 | 11% |
| 7 | Baekkegard, Daniel | M | $ 23.500 | $ 117.500 | 20% |
| 9 | Knibb, Taylor | F | $ 23.000 | $ 221.900 | 10% |
| 10 | Salthouse, Ellie | F | $ 21.500 | $ 68.400 | 31% |
Challenge
The top money earners on the Challenge side are the winners of Challenge Roth. Anne Haug also won Challenge St. Pölten and was 2nd at Challenge Walchsee, securing the top spot in this sub-list. In total, there were 169 athletes who finished in the money ranks in 2021 Challenge races.
Photo: Anne on the run at Challenge Roth, provided by Challenge Roth
| # | Name | Gender | Challenge | Total | Share |
| 1 | Haug, Anne | F | $ 53.853 | $ 186.853 | 29% |
| 2 | Lange, Patrick | M | $ 50.994 | $ 180.994 | 28% |
| 3 | Hall, Lucy | F | $ 48.353 | $ 61.649 | 78% |
| 4 | De Vries, Sarissa | F | $ 46.954 | $ 54.954 | 85% |
| 5 | Elbaek Ditlev, Magnus | M | $ 44.856 | $ 77.606 | 58% |
| 6 | Funk, Frederic | M | $ 31.036 | $ 42.036 | 74% |
| 7 | Spirig, Nicola | F | $ 25.036 | $ 64.136 | 39% |
| 8 | Dapena Gonzalez, Pablo | M | $ 20.976 | $ 28.976 | 72% |
| 9 | Hering, Jackie | F | $ 18.225 | $ 77.725 | 23% |
| 10 | Siddall, Laura | F | $ 16.919 | $ 29.919 | 57% |
| 11 | Steger, Thomas | M | $ 16.241 | $ 29.109 | 56% |
| 12 | Blummenfelt, Kristian | M | $ 15.000 | $ 175.100 | 9% |
| 13 | Hogenhaug, Kristian | M | $ 13.750 | $ 61.750 | 22% |
| 14 | Angert, Florian | M | $ 12.170 | $ 62.170 | 20% |
| 15 | Stimpson, Jodie | F | $ 12.100 | $ 22.100 | 55% |
| 16 | Frommhold, Nils | M | $ 11.319 | $ 21.419 | 53% |
| 17 | Svensson, Jesper | M | $ 11.000 | $ 22.750 | 48% |
| 17 | Genet, Manon | F | $ 11.000 | $ 21.738 | 51% |
| 19 | Frodeno, Jan | M | $ 10.859 | $ 190.859 | 6% |
| 20 | Perez Sala, Sara | F | $ 10.590 | $ 18.590 | 57% |
Short Course
With the Olympics, a lot of attention was on short-course racing. The Olympics themselves do not offer prize money, but the ITU series (now known as World Triathlon Championship Series WTCS) and SuperLeague provided good earning opportunities. Alex Yee was earning well in both event types and tops the short-course money list. In total, 124 athletes made money in these short-course events.
Photo: Alex Yee before running away from the other athletes at WTCS Leeds, provided by World Triathlon
| # | Name | Gender | WTCS | SuperLeague | Short Course | Total | Share |
| 1 | Yee, Alex | M | $ 62.600 | $ 100.000 | $ 162.600 | $ 162.600 | 100% |
| 2 | Duffy, Flora | F | $ 130.000 | $ 20.000 | $ 150.000 | $ 170.000 | 88% |
| 3 | Blummenfelt, Kristian | M | $ 120.100 | $ 20.000 | $ 140.100 | $ 175.100 | 80% |
| 4 | Learmonth, Jessica | F | $ 25.700 | $ 105.000 | $ 130.700 | $ 130.700 | 100% |
| 5 | Taylor-Brown, Georgia | F | $ 14.900 | $ 110.000 | $ 124.900 | $ 124.900 | 100% |
| 6 | Wilde, Hayden | M | $ 32.000 | $ 78.500 | $ 110.500 | $ 130.500 | 85% |
| 7 | Knibb, Taylor | F | $ 107.900 | $ 107.900 | $ 221.900 | 49% | |
| 8 | Luis, Vincent | M | $ 45.000 | $ 52.500 | $ 97.500 | $ 102.500 | 95% |
| 9 | Van Riel, Marten | M | $ 83.800 | $ 12.000 | $ 95.800 | $ 95.800 | 100% |
| 10 | Brownlee, Jonathan | M | $ 9.000 | $ 68.500 | $ 77.500 | $ 78.600 | 99% |
| 11 | Zaferes, Katie | F | $ 28.000 | $ 46.000 | $ 74.000 | $ 94.000 | 79% |
| 12 | Spivey, Taylor | F | $ 61.600 | $ 11.500 | $ 73.100 | $ 73.100 | 100% |
| 13 | Kingma, Maya | F | $ 55.100 | $ 3.500 | $ 58.600 | $ 58.600 | 100% |
| 14 | Coldwell, Sophie | F | $ 45.900 | $ 11.500 | $ 57.400 | $ 57.400 | 100% |
| 15 | Bergere, Leo | M | $ 57.000 | $ 57.000 | $ 57.000 | 100% | |
| 16 | Potter, Beth | F | $ 11.200 | $ 32.500 | $ 43.700 | $ 43.700 | 100% |
| 17 | Periault, Leonie | F | $ 29.900 | $ 11.500 | $ 41.400 | $ 41.400 | 100% |
| 18 | Vilaca, Vasco | M | $ 4.400 | $ 36.500 | $ 40.900 | $ 40.900 | 100% |
| 19 | Lindemann, Laura | F | $ 38.200 | $ 38.200 | $ 38.200 | 100% | |
| 20 | Coninx, Dorian | M | $ 37.400 | $ 37.400 | $ 37.400 | 100% |