After the first round of 2017 Ironman races, here are the updated Top 10 Ratings. If you compare the “old” ratings to the new ones, you will notice that the numbers have slightly changed even for athletes that have note raced. This is caused by a small improvement in my algorithm that reduces an undue influence of older results for athletes that have a large number of races from more than three years ago.
TOP 10 Rated Ironman Distance Athletes
TOP 10 Rated Male Athletes
Jan Frodeno and Sebastian Kienle are still my top ranked athletes. Nils Frommhold (having finished second in South Africa) has climbed back to third, very slightly ahead of Brent McMahon. Other changes are a result of the racing we have seen in 2017: Ben Hoffman entering the Top 10 after his sub-8 win in South Africa, and Marino and Frederik dropping back after a DNF and a sub-par race.
| Rank | Name | Nation | Rating | Last Race | # IM Races |
| 1 | Jan Frodeno | GER | 07:59:19 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 7 |
| 2 | Sebastian Kienle | GER | 08:08:32 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 13 |
| 3 | Nils Frommhold | GER | 08:16:05 | IM South Africa on 2017-04-02 | 9 |
| 4 | Brent McMahon | CAN | 08:16:06 | IM Arizona on 2016-11-20 | 7 |
| 5 | Andi Boecherer | GER | 08:17:13 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 14 |
| 6 | Andy Potts | USA | 08:17:26 | IM Western Australia on 2016-12-04 | 16 |
| 7 | Patrik Nilsson | SWE | 08:19:21 | IM Barcelona on 2016-10-02 | 7 |
| 8 | Ben Hoffman | USA | 08:21:15 | IM South Africa on 2017-04-02 | 18 |
| 9 | Marino Vanhoenacker | BEL | 08:21:27 | IM New Zealand on 2017-03-04 | 21 |
| 10 | Frederik Van Lierde | BEL | 08:21:52 | IM South Africa on 2017-04-02 | 21 |
TOP 10 Rated Female Athletes
For the females, the Top 4 have not changed: Daniela, Rinny, Kaisa and Heather are still the best-rated athletes. New athletes in the Top 10 are Meredith Kessler (new #5, third in New Zealand and also benefitting from the algorithm changes), Susie Cheetham (new #6, third place in South Africa after a Kona DNF) and Linsey Corbin (#10, slightly climbing with the changes).
| Rank | Name | Nation | Rating | Last Race | # IM Races |
| 1 | Daniela Ryf | SUI | 08:42:49 | IM South Africa on 2017-04-02 | 9 |
| 2 | Mirinda Carfrae | AUS | 09:01:36 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 14 |
| 3 | Kaisa Lehtonen | FIN | 09:09:12 | IM South Africa on 2017-04-02 | 4 |
| 4 | Heather Jackson | USA | 09:12:39 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 6 |
| 5 | Meredith Kessler | USA | 09:14:01 | IM New Zealand on 2017-03-04 | 25 |
| 6 | Susie Cheetham | GBR | 09:14:17 | IM South Africa on 2017-04-02 | 5 |
| 7 | Melissa Hauschildt | AUS | 09:15:51 | IM Western Australia on 2016-12-04 | 4 |
| 8 | Lucy Gossage | GBR | 09:15:55 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 14 |
| 9 | Anja Beranek | GER | 09:16:56 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 8 |
| 10 | Linsey Corbin | USA | 09:18:58 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 20 |
TOP 10 Swim-Rated Ironman Distance Athletes
The Swim Ratings are mainly a very slight re-ordering of the end of 2016 ratings. The two notable changes are Clayton Fettell who has entered the Top 10 male ranking in #2 and Annabel Luxford who is #8 in the female ranking.
TOP 10 Swim-Rated Male Athletes
| Rank | Name | Nation | Rating | Last Race | # IM Races |
| 1 | Dylan McNeice | NZL | 00:45:41 | Challenge Taiwan on 2016-05-07 | 14 |
| 2 | Clayton Fettell | AUS | 00:46:23 | IM New Zealand on 2017-03-04 | 6 |
| 3 | Jan Frodeno | GER | 00:46:52 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 7 |
| 4 | Andy Potts | USA | 00:47:00 | IM Western Australia on 2016-12-04 | 16 |
| 5 | Marko Albert | EST | 00:47:03 | IM New Zealand on 2017-03-04 | 17 |
| 6 | Denis Chevrot | FRA | 00:47:20 | IM Western Australia on 2016-12-04 | 9 |
| 7 | Terenzo Bozzone | NZL | 00:47:30 | IM New Zealand on 2017-03-04 | 11 |
| 8 | Michael Fox | AUS | 00:47:30 | IM Western Australia on 2016-12-04 | 3 |
| 9 | Barrett Brandon | USA | 00:47:32 | IM Cozumel on 2016-11-27 | 5 |
| 10 | Timothy O’Donnell | USA | 00:47:37 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 13 |
TOP 10 Swim-Rated Female Athletes
Jodie is still my top-ranked athlete, but Lauren Brandon (as last year’s IM Texas was shortened, she only has two valid full IM finishes) and Lucy Charles (with one Pro finish) are likely to take over the #1 rank from her.
| Rank | Name | Nation | Rating | Last Race | # IM Races |
| 1 | Jodie Cunnama | GBR | 00:49:34 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 9 |
| 2 | Meredith Kessler | USA | 00:50:34 | IM New Zealand on 2017-03-04 | 25 |
| 3 | Amanda Stevens | USA | 00:51:17 | IM Arizona on 2016-11-20 | 18 |
| 4 | Celine Schaerer | SUI | 00:51:19 | IM Texas on 2017-04-22 | 7 |
| 5 | Mary Beth Ellis | USA | 00:51:31 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 19 |
| 6 | Leanda Cave | GBR | 00:51:46 | IM Arizona on 2016-11-20 | 20 |
| 7 | Daniela Ryf | SUI | 00:51:52 | IM South Africa on 2017-04-02 | 9 |
| 8 | Annabel Luxford | AUS | 00:52:00 | IM New Zealand on 2017-03-04 | 4 |
| 9 | Anja Beranek | GER | 00:52:15 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 8 |
| 10 | Alicia Kaye | USA | 00:52:18 | IM Texas on 2017-04-22 | 3 |
TOP 10 Bike-Rated Ironman Distance Athletes
TOP 10 Bike-Rated Male Athletes
After not finishing an Ironman race for more than a year, Andy Starykowicz posted a record-breaking 4:01 bike leg at IM Texas, allowing him to reclaim the top spot in the rankings. Cameron Wurf has entered the Top 10 in #3 after being first off the bike at IM South Africa.
| Rank | Name | Nation | Rating | Last Race | # IM Races |
| 1 | Andrew Starykowicz | USA | 04:22:41 | IM Texas on 2017-04-22 | 7 |
| 2 | Sebastian Kienle | GER | 04:26:18 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 13 |
| 3 | Cameron Wurf | AUS | 04:26:25 | IM South Africa on 2017-04-02 | 3 |
| 4 | Dougal Allan | NZL | 04:30:36 | Challenge Wanaka on 2017-02-18 | 7 |
| 5 | Michael Weiss | AUT | 04:30:45 | IM Cozumel on 2016-11-27 | 16 |
| 6 | Jan Frodeno | GER | 04:31:05 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 7 |
| 7 | Andi Boecherer | GER | 04:31:23 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 14 |
| 8 | Lionel Sanders | CAN | 04:32:01 | IM Arizona on 2016-11-20 | 6 |
| 9 | Nils Frommhold | GER | 04:32:30 | IM South Africa on 2017-04-02 | 9 |
| 10 | Marino Vanhoenacker | BEL | 04:33:39 | IM New Zealand on 2017-03-04 | 21 |
TOP 10 Bike-Rated Female Athletes
There is one new athlete in the Top 10: After a DNF in Kona Tine Deckers has posted the third best bike split at IM Texas and re-entered the Top 10. Other than that there is only a slight re-ordering of the 2016 rankings.
| Rank | Name | Nation | Rating | Last Race | # IM Races |
| 1 | Daniela Ryf | SUI | 04:55:11 | IM South Africa on 2017-04-02 | 9 |
| 2 | Anja Beranek | GER | 05:01:54 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 8 |
| 3 | Heather Jackson | USA | 05:03:54 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 6 |
| 4 | Jodie Cunnama | GBR | 05:04:50 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 9 |
| 5 | Annabel Luxford | AUS | 05:05:46 | IM New Zealand on 2017-03-04 | 4 |
| 6 | Tine Deckers | BEL | 05:06:29 | IM Texas on 2017-04-22 | 17 |
| 7 | Diana Riesler | GER | 05:06:38 | IM Malaysia on 2016-11-12 | 16 |
| 8 | Lucy Gossage | GBR | 05:06:38 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 14 |
| 9 | Mary Beth Ellis | USA | 05:06:41 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 19 |
| 10 | Yvonne Van Vlerken | NED | 05:06:43 | IM New Zealand on 2017-03-04 | 25 |
TOP 10 Run-Rated Ironman Distance Athletes
TOP 10 Run-Rated Male Athletes
The athletes that have entered the Top 10 have all had great results at the start of the 2017 season: David McNamee (#3 after 2:45 at IM South Africa), Matt Hanson (#4 after 2:42 at IM Texas), Diego Van Looy (#9 after 2:51 at IM South Africa) and Cameron Brown (#10 after 2:42 at IM New Zealand).
Patrick Lange doesn’t have a valid rating yet – his only “full” IM was IM Hawaii (he qualified at the shortened IM Texas). But his run course record in Kona indicates that he will be well placed in the Top 10 once he has finished the required three valid IMs.
| Rank | Name | Nation | Rating | Last Race | # IM Races |
| 1 | Jan Frodeno | GER | 02:45:34 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 7 |
| 2 | Jeff Symonds | CAN | 02:47:53 | IM Western Australia on 2016-12-04 | 7 |
| 3 | David McNamee | GBR | 02:48:59 | IM South Africa on 2017-04-02 | 6 |
| 4 | Matt Hanson | USA | 02:49:11 | IM Texas on 2017-04-22 | 10 |
| 5 | Ivan Rana | ESP | 02:49:21 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 11 |
| 6 | Bart Aernouts | BEL | 02:49:24 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 9 |
| 7 | Patrik Nilsson | SWE | 02:49:40 | IM Barcelona on 2016-10-02 | 7 |
| 8 | Jesse Thomas | USA | 02:51:17 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 3 |
| 9 | Diego Van Looy | BEL | 02:51:33 | IM South Africa on 2017-04-02 | 4 |
| 10 | Cameron Brown | NZL | 02:51:41 | IM New Zealand on 2017-03-04 | 28 |
TOP 10 Run-Rated Female Athletes
With a slower run in South Africa, Kristin Möller has dropped to fifth place, while Daniela Ryf has climbed into #2 and continued to improve her rating. Ruth Brennan Morrey benefitted from the algorithm change and is now in #9.
| Rank | Name | Nation | Rating | Last Race | # IM Races |
| 1 | Mirinda Carfrae | AUS | 02:57:04 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 14 |
| 2 | Daniela Ryf | SUI | 03:02:31 | IM South Africa on 2017-04-02 | 9 |
| 3 | Kaisa Lehtonen | FIN | 03:03:27 | IM South Africa on 2017-04-02 | 4 |
| 4 | Kelly Williamson | USA | 03:04:45 | IM Texas on 2017-04-22 | 14 |
| 5 | Kristin Moeller | GER | 03:05:16 | IM South Africa on 2017-04-02 | 20 |
| 6 | Beth Gerdes | USA | 03:05:29 | IM Australia on 2016-05-01 | 12 |
| 7 | Lisa Roberts | USA | 03:05:58 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 15 |
| 8 | Susie Cheetham | GBR | 03:06:12 | IM South Africa on 2017-04-02 | 5 |
| 9 | Ruth Brennan Morrey | USA | 03:06:42 | IM Arizona on 2016-11-20 | 4 |
| 10 | Linsey Corbin | USA | 03:07:27 | IM Hawaii on 2016-10-08 | 20 |