Triathleter

Triathleter is a person who competes in triathlons, a multi-sport event that combines swimming, cycling, and running in succession. In common usage, the standard term is triathlete; triathleter appears infrequently and is often considered a misspelling or historical variant.

Triathlons vary by distance. Sprint formats typically involve about 750 meters of swimming, 20 kilometers of cycling, and 5 kilometers of running. Olympic or standard distances are about 1.5 kilometers of swimming, 40 kilometers of cycling, and 10 kilometers of running. Longer formats include the half-Ironman (roughly 1.9 km swim, 90 km bike, 21.1 km run) and the full Ironman (3.86 km swim, 180.2 km bike, 42.2 km run). Some events also allow team relays or mixed relays.

Governing bodies and competitions: World Triathlon is the sport’s international federation, overseeing world championships and Olympic qualification. Ironman, while related, operates its own long-distance series. Participants typically compete in age-group categories or as professionals, with rules on equipment, transitions, and conduct enforced across events.

Training and strategy: Triathletes train across three disciplines, with brick workouts that combine cycling and running. Emphasis is placed on technique in swimming, efficiency on the bike, and running economy, along with nutrition, recovery, and race-day pacing. Wetsuits may be permitted or required in cooler water.

Equipment and race-day basics: Common gear includes a swimsuit or wetsuit, goggles, and swim cap, a bicycle with a helmet, running shoes, and transition gear. Races begin with an open-water swim, followed by a bike leg and a run, with transitions shaping overall time and strategy.