Triathlon

Introduction

Triathlon is a mix of three different races, done one after another. The athletes will swim 1.5km, ride a bicycle for 40km, and then run for 10km. The first athlete to cross the finish line is the winner.

Between each race (for example after the swim, and before the bike ride), the athletes have to get ready for the next race and change clothes quickly. If they don’t do it fast enough, they could lose because of time lost.

Olympic and Ironman Triathlons

Triathlon was introduced in the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Olympic distances are shorter than the Ironman distances. The Ironman event has a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26 mile run. The Olympic event has a 0.93 mile (1.5km) swim, 24.8 mile (40km) bike ride and a 6.2 mile (10km) run. Because the distances are so much shorter, the athletes have to get ready for the event in a different way.

History

Triathlon as a sport is quite new. In 1974, the San Diego Track Club (in the United States) held the first official triathlon event. Before that, triathlons were training exercises.

Links

• Training
• Nutrition