Only an Olympic sport since 2000, triathlon is the baby of the
Olympic Games.
The Californians were the first ones to put together an endurance
contest of their favourite outdoor sports (swimming, cycling and running). The San Diego
Track Club leading the way with the idea of this new challenge, in 1974.
While triathlon was added to the Sydney
2000 Olympic Games, along with taekwondo, triathlon's first official world
championships were held in 1989.
The official distance for triathlon is set at a 1,500m swim,
followed by a 40km cycle ride and then a 10km run. Luckily the athletes don't need to swim
with their bicycles or carry them on the run.
After a mass (same-sex) start for the swimming event, the race
continues without a pause; so fast changeovers are a vital part of gaining an edge.
Men are expected to finish the race in around 1 hour 50 minutes and
women should be coming in at around two hours.
The men and women race on separate days.
Triathlon Olympic Medal Winners
Men
Sydney 2000:
Simon Whitfield (Canada); Stephan Vuckovic (Germany); Jan Rehula (Czech Republic).
Athens 2004:
Hamish Carter (New Zealand); Bevan Docherty (New Zealand); Sven Riederer (Switzerland).
Women
Sydney 2000:
Brigitte McMahon (Switzerland); Michellie Jones (Australia); Magali Messmer (Switzerland).
Athens 2004:
Kate Allen (Austria); Loretta Harrop (Australia); Susan Williams (USA).
As triathlon is a relative newcomer to the Olympic Games, it will
be a while before we find the true Olympic Greats in this discipline.
Swiss-born, Brigitte McMahon became the first person to win a
triathlon Olympic gold medal, at the Sydney 2000 Olympic
Games; as women raced in the new event a day before the men.
McMahon started the 10km run in 13th place but was only ten seconds
behind the leader. She finally kicked for gold, 200 metres from the finish, and won the
event two seconds ahead of the home favourite, Michellie Jones.
Canada's Simon
Whitfield started the Sydney 2000 triathlon's 10km
running leg in 24th place but managed to work his way up the field and make a final sprint
for gold, in the last 400 metres.
             
       
    
ITU:
The International Triathlon Union was founded in Avignon, France in 1989.
National Triathlon Federations
Bermuda Triathlon Association:
The site highlights some recommended destinations for swimming, cycling, and running
activities while on the Island.
British Triathlon:
The British Triathlon Association is located on the campus of Loughborough University.
Triathlon in Britain, like most other sports, is divided up into various regions. Various
initiatives and events are available on a regional level.
Cesky Svaz Triatlonu: (Czech
Republic).
Confederação Brasileira de
Triathlon: (Brazil).
Dansk Triathlon Forbund: (Denmark).
DTU: (Germany).
Federação
Triatlo Portugal.
Federación Colombiana de
Triathlon.
Fédération Française de Triathlon:
(France).
Hrvatski Triatlon Savez:
(Croatia).
Indian Triathlon Federation:
India's first triathlon took place in 1990.
Nederlandse Triathlon Bond:
(Holland).
Norges Triathlonforbund:
(Norway).
Österreichischer
Triathlonverband: (Austria).
Slovenská Triatlonová Únia:
(Slovakia).
Suomen Triathlonliitto:
Finnish Triathlon Association.
Svenska Triathlonförbundet:
(Sweden).
Tri Suisse:
Swiss Triathlon Federation.
Triathlon Association of
Singapore:
The first triathlon race held locally was in 1982, organised by the National University of
Singapore.
Triathlon Australia:
Triathlon came to Australia in the early 1980s and the first state triathlon associations
were formed in late 1984 and early 1985. In May 1986, at Broadbeach, Queensland the
Triathlon Federation of Australia was officially formed.
Triathlon
Canada:
The national federation for the sports of triathlon, duathlon and aquathlon in Canada.
Triathlon Ireland:
The national governing body for the sport of triathlon, duathlon and aquathlon in Ireland;
affiliated to the International Triathlon Union (ITU) and the European Triathlon Union
(ETU).
Triathlon New Zealand:
Contains details of triathlon clubs in New Zealand.
Triathlon South Africa:
Functions as the National Federation for triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and other related
multi-sports in South Africa and represents South Africa internationally.
Triatlon Argentino:
(Argentina).
Triatlonska Zveza Slovenije:
(Slovenia).
USA Triathlon:
USA Triathlon is the national governing body for the multi-sport disciplines of triathlon,
duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States.
Conceived by North-American mariner John Collins, Ironman emerged in
Hawaii in 1978 with 15 super athletes participating, out of which only 12 finished the
race. Comprising of a 3.8-km swim, 180-km cycling and 42-km race, it ended up being
defined as a test of boundary overcoming and much persistence
Ironman Australia:
Forster and Tuncurry, the twin towns where the Ironman Australian Triathlon race is held,
are situated on the idyllic mid-north holiday coast of NSW and lie approximately 300
kilometres north of Sydney.
Ironman
Brazil:
The triathlon has been practised in Brazil since 1982. Florianópolis, Santa Catarina
state capital, has been home to the event during the last few years.
Ironman France:
Takes place in Nice, in the south of France.
Ironman Germany:
The swim course in a quarry pond, the bike course through the unique villages of
Main-Kinzig and Wetterau region and the Marathon run in front of the glittering skyline of
Frankfurt's bank towers.
Ironman Live:
The official site of the Ironman Triathlon -- a 2.4-mile ocean swim, 112-mile bike race
and 26.2-mile run.
Ironman North America:
Ironman events taking place in Arizona, California, Canada,
Couer d'Alene, Florida, Lake
Placid, St. Croix and Wisconsin.
Ironman
South Africa:
Scheduled to take place annually in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Ironman Western Australia:
Takes place in the beautiful seaside town of Busselton, Western Australia.
xtri:
Claims to be one of the oldest continuously updated triathlon web sites on the Internet.
General Triathlon Links
Australian Triathlete Magazine:
The publication is managed and edited by athletes to ensure all aspects of the sport are
covered; age group to elite competitors, short course to Ironman distance, training advice
to mental preparation, news and previews… hopefully nothing is missed or left out, so
that readers can get the most out of their training and racing.
London Triathlon:
If you're not up to entering the race, the best viewing spots are given.
Transition Times:
Triathlon magazine on the lookout for local editors.
Tri 247:
Aims to produce the most comprehensive, professional and independent resource for
triathlon in the UK.
Triathlete.com:
US-based website with triathlon-related articles and a listing of triathlon clubs around
the United States.
Triathlete Magazine:
The world's largest triathlon magazine.
Triathlon Data:
Database of triathlon events and results.
Tri Du:
News and race reports from triathlon events Down Under.
USA National Training Center:
The USA Triathlon National Training Center, a part of South Lake Hospital (Orlando), is a
place where the community and athletes of all levels have the opportunity to meet their
sports, health and education goals. Features include a fitness centre, aquatic centre,
outpatient rehabilitation, community health education and library, multi-purpose athletic
fields, human performance lab and a track and field complex.
Triathlon.
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