diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -172,7 +172,10 @@
   end
 
   def contest_started?
-    if Configuration.contest_mode?
+    if Configuration.indv_contest_mode?
+      stat = self.contest_stat
+      return ((stat != nil) and (stat.started_at != nil))
+    elsif Configuration.contest_mode?
       return true if site==nil
       return site.started
     else