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What is a triathlon?

sportsendurance

Quick Answer

A triathlon is an endurance race combining three consecutive sports: swimming, cycling and running.

The Full Story

Triathletes complete the three legs back to back, with timed changeovers called transitions. The standard Olympic distance is a 1.5 km swim, 40 km cycle and 10 km run. The Ironman distance is far longer: a 3.86 km swim, 180.25 km bike ride and a full 42.2 km marathon. The modern sport is usually traced to a race held at Mission Bay, San Diego, in 1974. Triathlon made its Olympic debut at the Sydney 2000 Games.

Key Facts

1.Olympic distance: 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike, 10 km run
2.Ironman ends with a full 42.2 km marathon
3.Triathlon joined the Olympics at Sydney 2000

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"Swim, bike, run: inside the world's toughest races"