What is a triathlon?
A triathlon is an endurance race combining three sports in a row: swimming, cycling and running. The standard Olympic distance is a 1.5 km swim, a 40 km bike ride and a 10 km run.
Triathletes complete all three legs without stopping the clock, changing equipment in a transition area between each sport. The changeovers are called T1, from swim to bike, and T2, from bike to run. Fast transitions can make the difference between winning and losing.
Modern triathlon developed in San Diego, California, in the 1970s. The first event usually credited as a modern triathlon took place at Mission Bay in 1974. Triathlon became an Olympic sport at the Sydney 2000 Games. A mixed team relay was added at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Different distances
Races vary in length. A sprint triathlon is about half the Olympic distance, making it popular with beginners. The toughest common format is the full-distance triathlon, known by its famous brand name Ironman, with a 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike ride and full marathon run.
Did You Know?
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, triathlon swimming events were held in the River Seine after a major cleanup of the river.