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Deep Dive Into the 2021 Triathlon Money List

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. 

Dani CollinsCup
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. 

Frodo

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.

Gustav StG

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.

Joe UK

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:

LCB StG

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.

Anne Roth

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.

Yee Leeds

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%
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