In response to our interview with Ironman CEO Andrew Messick, top pro Rachel Joyce came on to talk about the issue of 50 Women to Kona. We also chatted about her foot injury and her recent coaching change.
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I am a supporter of equal number of pros in Kona but sadly have not come across with a convincing argument thus far and the points made in this episode (clearly same as before) falls short as well 🙁 Sadly Messick’s numbers about more women making money (% wise) and more women qualifying for Kona (% wise) still hasn’t been disputed successfully. May be it is time to change the way argument is made and move towards the equal slots goal via another direction. If all these supporters of 5Q still keep showing up at IM races, signing up for them as fast as they can click on the Active.com site, if the both women and men AG participation shows a steady increase for 70.3/IM distance and we still argue with WTC based on the numbers, how is the argument going to be won?
So far WTC responded in a positive way about some of the other issues brought by the AGs and pros. To name a few, being able to transfer, defer or get a (partial at times) refund for race entries (which was unheard of just few years ago); rotating 70.3 world championship sites around the world (no, they would not give up Kona and rotate IMWC if unless they go insane); reformed drafting rules/enforcement for pros; better/fair start for FPROS and having female and male races in two different days for 70.3 WC. In short, they are somewhat customer oriented and they do listen when they need to (or have to).
I think it is time to put heads together and come with another game plan to show WTC why they need to do the right thing for equal slots in Kona. Clearly Twitter shaming of Messick did not work.
Last but not least, female pros should have taken the 10 extra slots they were offered in 2014. So called “attached strings” would have required a lot less effort than what has already been done. Women shouldn’t have voted against other women for such an important cause in our sport 🙁
What a great interview and great representative of the issue and the sport. I, too, would like a longer, more detailed discussion of the issues. Perhaps a real debate would be AWESOME!!!! Having the Ironman representatives and 50 women for Tri representatives on a stage for a real, live, structured DEBATE!!! Go for it, Bob!