triathlons

Triathlons are multisport endurance races in which athletes complete three sequential disciplines: swimming, cycling, and running. The events are held as individual competitions or, less commonly, as relay teams where each leg is completed by different teammates. Races emphasize versatility, endurance, and race strategy, including pacing, nutrition, and equipment choices such as wetsuits and bicycles. Transition areas between disciplines are a standard feature of triathlon courses.

Common race formats

- Sprint: roughly 750 meters of swimming, 20 kilometers of cycling, and 5 kilometers of running.

- Olympic (standard): about 1.5 kilometers of swimming, 40 kilometers of cycling, and 10 kilometers of running.

- Half-Ironman (Ironman 70.3): 1.9 kilometers of swimming, 90 kilometers of cycling, and 21.1 kilometers of running.

- Ironman (full): 3.86 kilometers of swimming, 180.2 kilometers of cycling, and 42.2 kilometers of running.

Some events are draft-legal, allowing cyclists to ride in groups, while others prohibit drafting to emphasize individual pacing.

Governing bodies and events

World Triathlon, founded in 1989 as the International Triathlon Union (ITU) and renamed, is the sport’s world governing body. It sanctions a global calendar of World Championship Series and Cup events and oversees the sport’s Olympic disciplines. Triathlon debuted at the Olympics in 2000. The Ironman brand, organized separately, runs long-distance events culminating in the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

History and participation

Modern triathlon gained popularity in the 1970s, with the first Ironman held in 1978. Today the sport attracts amateur and professional athletes worldwide, including para-triathletes, and features a broad array of regional, national, and international competitions.