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101-671: According to the PATH Foundation, their mission statement is: "To transform Metro Atlanta into the most trail connected city in the United States and to share knowledge and experience with other communities to promote trail development." In 2011, PATH celebrated its 20th anniversary. In May 2011, PATH created Atlanta's first in-town triathlon called triPATHlon and sanctioned by USA Triathlon . The triPATHlon benefited Chastain Park . This Atlanta, Georgia –related article

202-512: A draft legal format for the bike leg, whereas drafting is not permitted at the amateur level. In addition, the ITU has a Long Distance Triathlon series. The World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) is a private company that sanctions and organises the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 races each year. These races serve as qualifying events for their own annual World Championships. The Ironman World Championship

303-513: A marathon . In December of that year the national television station France 2 broadcast a program, Voyage au bout de la souffrance ( Journey to the End of Suffering ) which detailed the events of the Nice Triathlon. This program introduced the sport to the general public. Some fans of traditional sports strongly criticised this new practice as seven of the entrants were hospitalised due to

404-415: A 5% margin of error in the cycle and run course distances. Though there can be some variation in race distances, particularly among short triathlons, most triathlons conform to one of those above standards. In general, participation in a triathlon requires an athlete to register and sign up in advance of the actual race. After registration, racers are often provided a race number, colored swim cap , and, if

505-489: A certain type of athlete. The standard Olympic distance of 1.5/40/10 km (0.93/24.8/6.2 miles) was created by longtime triathlon race director Jim Curl in the mid-1980s, after he and partner Carl Thomas produced the U.S. Triathlon Series (USTS) between 1982 and 1997. Sprint triathlons are the most common triathlon distance in the United States. In 2022, for example, there were 839 USAT sanctioned sprint triathlons, more than all other distances combined. In addition to

606-617: A combination of World Triathlon and WTC rules to sanction WTC's branded events. Many other organisations exist beginning with local clubs that may host a single small race once per year to companies like the Challenge Family brand that produces long-distance events around the world, which includes events like Challenge Roth . International Ultra-Triathlon Association (IUTA) is the official governing body of Ultratriathlon , which involves triathlon in distances longer than an iron-distance race. Additionally, each nation, generally, has

707-553: A consensus on an Olympic route for the sport. McDonald was selected as President of the committee, while Sweden's Sture Jonasson was elected as Secretary. Then in February 1989, an informal meeting was held in Vancouver , Canada , where members of the working committee worked nonstop for a week on the statutes and regulations of the future International Triathlon Union (ITU). Then on 1 April 1989, 30 National Federations attended

808-509: A form of obstacle course racing at the 2028 Summer Olympics . The event was first held in 1912, inspired by the traditional pentathlon held during the ancient Olympics, and designed to model skills needed by a soldier of that time. It has been a continuous part of the Summer Olympics since 1912, and a world championship has been held annually since 1949. The rules of the modern pentathlon have changed several times, especially in

909-487: A helmet and cycling shoes. In some cases, racers leave their cycling shoes attached to their bicycle pedals and slip their feet into them while riding. Some triathletes don't wear socks, decreasing their time spent in transition even more. The cycling stage proceeds around a marked course, typically on public roads. In many cases, especially smaller triathlons, roads are not closed to automobiles; however, traffic coordinators are often present to help control traffic. Typically,

1010-423: A lack of participation in the sport, as well as [having] limited public interest". However, NBC reporter Stephanie de Lancey called the compressed 90-minute format used at the 2024 Olympics "fast and action-packed" and said the replacement of show jumping for 2028 was "a way for the sport to evolve in the 21st century." A 2021 study by Quartz concluded that modern pentathlon (in the form that included equestrian)

1111-446: A large number of amateur athletes are competing. Another option is individual time trial starts, where athletes enter the water one at a time, a few seconds apart. The swim leg can occur in any available body of water, whether a natural body of water or a swimming pool. Swim legs not occurring in a swimming pool are considered open water swimming where the course typically proceeds around a series of marked buoys before athletes exit

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1212-526: A lawsuit was to be argued at the Court of Arbitration for Sport . This settlement had a large effect on WTC races, including WADA membership for the WTC and out-of-competition testing for elite athletes. Since 2008, coinciding with leadership changes at both the ITU and WTC, the two organisations have been steadily working together. Efforts in 2012 and 2014 resulted in the announcement that Ironman would standardise

1313-546: A media conference at UIPM Headquarters in Monaco. They were joined by Athletes Committee representatives including the group's Chair, Yasser Hefny OLY (Egypt), Jamie Cooke (Great Britain) and Natalya Coyle OLY (Ireland), as well as former Pan American champion Tamara Vega (Mexico). In November 2022, the UIPM Congress voted 69–11 in favor of replacing riding with obstacle course racing; an associated motion established that

1414-545: A member of the 1957 Collegiate and AAU All-American swim teams. Then in 1973, Johnstone learned of the Dave Pain Birthday Biathlon, a 7.2 km (4.5 mi) run followed by what was billed as a quarter-mile (0.4 km) swim (the actual distance was only between 200 and 300 yards). The following year, after competing in the event for the second time and placing in the top ten, Johnstone desired more of this style of race and with equal emphasis on

1515-583: A memorandum of understanding with the Federation Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO) designed to integrate FISO within UIPM, “with the shared aim of creating a sporting movement with more audience and active participants”. Two months later, the decision to include the new-look Modern Pentathlon in the 2028 Summer Olympics was endorsed by the IOC. In 2021, modern pentathlon consistently had

1616-565: A minority event on the world stage. The first modern swim/bike/run event was held at Mission Bay, San Diego, California on September 25, 1974. The race was conceived and directed by two members of the San Diego Track Club, Jack Johnstone and Don Shanahan. Johnstone recalls that he was a part of the 70s jogging craze in America and that after entering a few races he was not regaining his "mediocre fitness" despite having been

1717-550: A mixed relay event. After much lobby work of the president of the German Modern Pentathlon Federation, Wilhelm Henze, women were for the first time admitted at the world championships in 1977, and at the official world championships in 1981. The Modern Pentathlon World Cup is an annual series of modern pentathlon competitions, with four events taking place in the regular season and the top 36 female and top 36 male athletes qualifying to compete in

1818-497: A much slower pace than they are accustomed to in training. Triathletes train for this phenomenon through transition workouts known as "bricks": back-to-back workouts involving two disciplines, most commonly cycling and running. Modern pentathlon The modern pentathlon is an Olympic multisport that currently consists of fencing (one-touch épée), freestyle swimming , equestrian show jumping , laser pistol shooting , and cross country running . Equestrian will be replaced by

1919-533: A plan to maintain riding with rule changes to bring them in line with those of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), and a focus on animal welfare . In May 2022, the UIPM announced it would hold an obstacle racing test event alongside the 2022 Modern Pentathlon World Cup final in Ankara , citing that it had received the most support out of the over 60 disciplines proposed,

2020-513: A race; each competitor must do a segment of swimming, cycling and running. The World Triathlon Mixed Relay Championships began with two separate classifications for men and women. In 2009, it adopted a 4×4 mixed relay format, where each team has two men and two women. The triathlon at the Youth Olympic Games also has a 4× mixed relay since 2010, and the event was introduced at the 2020 Summer Olympics . The World Triathlon accepts

2121-437: A sanctioning body for triathlon events in their respective country with regard to athletes competing and qualifying for Olympic competition. The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO), an athlete-owned body that represents non-drafting professional triathletes, was launched in 2016. The organisation focuses on promoting the athletes and their performances with high-quality international broadcasts. In 2022 The PTO launched

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2222-466: A single activity are not as common in triathlon as they are in single sport events. The cross-training effect that athletes achieve from training for one sport by doing a second activity applies to triathlon training. Additional activities that triathletes perform for cross-training benefits are yoga, pilates, and weight training. Triathletes will often use their legs less vigorously and more carefully than other swimmers, conserving their leg muscles for

2323-472: A single venue. This was planned for the 2016 Summer Olympics but held for the first time at the 2020 Summer Olympics . For the 2024 Summer Olympics , the format is further condensed into two hours. Further innovation and streamlining to maximise the sport's appeal, including changes to the fencing event, is planned for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles . Modern pentathlon is also part of

2424-406: A specialized geometry, including a steep seat-tube angle both to improve aerodynamics and to spare muscle groups needed for running. At the end of the bike segment, triathletes also often cycle with a higher cadence (revolutions per minute), which serves in part to keep the muscles loose and flexible for running. The primary distinguishing feature of running in a triathlon is that it occurs after

2525-531: A triathlon provides cardiovascular exercise benefits. Additionally, triathletes encounter fewer injuries than those who only use running as part of their exercise routine due to the incorporation of low impact swim and bike training. Triathletes spend many hours training for competitions, like other endurance event participants. There are three components that have been researched to improve endurance sports performance; aerobic capacity, lactate threshold, and economy. Injuries that are incurred from long hours of

2626-401: A variety of styles to match the conditions of the water. For example, wetsuits that are sleeveless and cut above the knee are designed for warmer waters, while still providing buoyancy. Wetsuits are legal in sanctioned events at which the surface water temperature is 26 °C (79 °F) or less. In non-sanctioned events or in "age group" classes where most racers are simply participating for

2727-475: A wave's energy for a bit of speed at the end of the swim stage. Also, open-water swims necessitate "sighting": raising the head to look for landmarks or buoys that mark the course. A modified stroke allows the triathlete to lift the head above water to sight without interrupting the swim or wasting energy. Because open water swim areas are often cold and because wearing a wetsuit provides a competitive advantage, specialized triathlon wetsuits have been developed in

2828-501: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Triathlon A triathlon is an endurance multisport race consisting of swimming , cycling , and running over various distances. Triathletes compete for fastest overall completion time, racing each segment sequentially with the time transitioning between the disciplines included. The word is of Greek origin, from τρεῖς ( treîs ), 'three', and ἆθλος ( âthlos ), 'competition'. The sport originated in

2929-401: Is a slight delay between the trigger pull and the laser firing, simulating the time it would take for a pellet to clear the muzzle. Air pistols with laser transmitters were introduced during the transitional period and are still in use. Purpose-built laser pistols are developed and commonly used since the middle of the 2010s. Laser pistols and targets have to be certified by the UIPM. Until

3030-778: Is an individual sport and each athlete is competing against the course and the clock for the best time. As such, athletes are not allowed to receive assistance from anyone else outside the race, with the exception of race-sanctioned aid volunteers who distribute food and water on the course. Triathlons are timed in five sequential sections: Results are usually posted on official websites and will show for each triathlete his/her swim time; cycle time (with transitions included); run time; and total time. Some races also post transition times separately. Other rules of triathlon vary from race to race and generally involve descriptions of allowable equipment (for example, wetsuits are allowed in USAT events in

3131-659: Is held annually in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in October while the Ironman 70.3 World Championship is held in September and changes location each year. The "Ironman" and "Iron" brands are property of the WTC. Therefore, long-distance multi-sport events organized by groups other than the WTC may not officially be called "Ironman" or "Iron" races. For its part, the ITU does not sanction WTC races; however, USA Triathlon (USAT) uses

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3232-649: Is not allowed, and thus the cycling portion more closely resembles individual time trial racing. In other races, such as those in the World Triathlon Series and World Triathlon Cup racing, drafting and the formation of pelotons are legal. This places an emphasis on running performance as several athletes will enter the bike to run transition at the same time due to drafting. Triathlon bicycles are generally optimized for aerodynamics, having special handlebars called aero-bars or tri-bars , aerodynamic wheels , and other components. Triathlon bikes use

3333-426: The 2000 Olympics , the running distance was 4 kilometres. The running discipline was shortened to a 3 km cross-country run afterwards. In 2009, the running and shooting events were combined into three 1000 m laps with each preceded by laser shooting at five targets in 70 seconds or less. From the start of the 2013 season, the laser-run was changed to consist of four 800 m laps (increasing

3434-536: The London 2012 Olympics was imposed on Jonathan Brownlee , a competitor from Great Britain , for mounting his bike too early.) Other time penalties can be incurred during the race for, among other things, drafting on the bike in a non-drafting race, improper passing, littering on course, and unsportsmanlike conduct. Participants in triathlon often use the sport to improve or maintain their physical fitness . With each sport being an endurance event, training for

3535-462: The United States overwhelmingly voting for a reformed version of equestrian sport . In October 2022, modern pentathlon's elected Athletes Committee launched a campaign entitled #OurFuture, highlighting the views of pentathletes in favour of the change. Athletes such as Olympic silver medallists Elodie Clouvel (France) and Ahmed Elgendy (Egypt) supported the transition when participating in

3636-687: The Youth Olympic Games since 2010. Modern pentathlon, despite its long Olympic history, has had to justify its inclusion in the modern Olympic Games several times. On February 11, 2013, in Lausanne, the IOC confirmed modern pentathlon once again as one of the 25 core sports of the Olympic program through to 2020. Nine years later, the IOC confirmed its place on the program for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Until 1948 there

3737-478: The 1912 Games, made use of the long tradition of Swedish military multi-sports events to create the modern pentathlon. The name derives from the Greek péntathlon "contest of five [events]". The addition of modern to the name distinguishes it from the original pentathlon of the ancient Olympic Games , which consisted of the stadion foot race , wrestling , long jump , javelin , and discus . The location of

3838-668: The 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. The International Triathlon Union (now known as World Triathlon ) was founded in 1989 as the international governing body of the sport, with the chief goal, at that time, of putting triathlon on the Olympic program. The World Triathlon sanctions and organises the World Triathlon Series and the World Triathlon Cup races each year, with annual world champions crowned each year for elite pro-triathletes, junior pro-triathletes, and age-group athletes. World Triathlon races are conducted in

3939-648: The European and UK-American federations over many issues, particularly in view of a favourable vote system for the ETU, this caused immediate fracturing and the TFI never fully establish itself. Around the same time, Canadian Les McDonald held talks with Juan Antonio Samaranch , then President of the International Olympic Committee . Samaranch had already declared his intention to add triathlon to

4040-548: The Games, in November 2021 it was reported that the UIPM was opening consultations on the proposed replacement of riding with another discipline. The decision was ratified during the UIPM's Congress on 27 November 2021, with the changes intended to be implemented for the 2028 Summer Olympics . According to critics of the decision, the UIPM voted for the change without consulting athletes, claiming force majeure . The decision

4141-416: The ITU and USAT asked all national triathlon federations to refuse to continue sanctioning any WTC events. The reasons for this stemmed from WTC not recognising the ITU as the sport's governing body as WTC was attempting to set up their own federation. Furthermore, ITU and USAT argued against supporting WTC because they were a profit driven organisation, that it was directly conflicting with ITU titles, such as

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4242-538: The Olympic Games, and 46% of those cited enjoying ninja-style obstacle races as the reason, with 34% describing the reason for their answer: 'I think the Modern Pentathlon needs to embrace change'." The article also indirectly referenced the popular TV show American Ninja Warrior . Іn August 2023, the connection between the Modern Pentathlon and Obstacle movements was solidified when UIPM signed

4343-621: The Olympic games as fast as possible, and assured that triathlon could appear as a demonstration sport at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona but only under the auspices of the International Union of Modern Pentathlon and Biathlon (UIPMB). Many within the triathlon community were unhappy with the arrangement wishing for their own federation not to be held as part of UIPMB. Unable to accept the offer, Samaranch established an Olympic working committee for triathlon in an effort to form

4444-647: The PTO Tour, the first series of pro-triathlon 'majors' each with a prize purse of $ 1M including the PTO Canadian Open, Collins Cup and PTO US Open. A unique aspect of the Professional Triathletes Organization (PTO) is that it is an athlete-owned entity. Two major rule making bodies, the ITU and WTC, had an overlap of rules and authority, an issue which began to create conflict in the 2000s. This culminated in 2005 when

4545-496: The World Cup Final. It was first held in 1999. Modern pentathlon has been the subject of numerous changes since its creation. In 2015 — and for the first time in the 2016 Summer Olympics — a system of an additional bonus round was added to épée fencing in international competitions. Before that, there was only the round-robin format. Until the 2000 Olympics, the distance for swimming was 300 metres; at that time it

4646-416: The above distances, two new long-distance events have appeared, the 111 and 222 events. The 111 distance is 1 km (0.62 mi) swimming, 100 km (62 mi) bicycling and 10 km (6.2 mi) running, totalling 111 km (69 mi). The 222 distance is double that. Most triathlons are individual events. Another format is relay triathlons, where a team of competitors take turns to compete at

4747-614: The addition. When naming the event the pair used the unofficially agreed naming system for multisport events, already used for pentathlon , heptathlon , and decathlon . So they used the Greek prefix tri (three) for the number of events, followed by the already familiar athlon , hence naming the event the Mission Bay Triathlon. It is worthy of note that neither founder had heard of the French events; both believed their race

4848-437: The athlete has already been exercising in two other disciplines for an extended period of time, so many muscles are already tired. The effect of switching from cycling to running can be profound; first-time triathletes are often astonished at their muscle weakness , which may be caused by lactate accumulation and the bizarre, sometimes painful sensation in their thighs a few hundred yards into the run, and discover that they run at

4949-441: The bike, and it must remain on until the competitor has dismounted; the competitor may not be required to wear the helmet when not on the bicycle (e.g. while repairing a mechanical problem). Failure to comply with this rule will result in disqualification. Additionally, while on the bike course, all bicycles shall be propelled only by human force and human power. Other than pushing a bicycle, any propulsive action brought on by use of

5050-505: The changes would take effect for junior competition in 2023. The 2023 and 2024 junior world championships duly took place with obstacle in place of equestrian. The new format's implementation at the senior level will be formalised after the 2024 Summer Olympics . On 22 June 2023, the UIPM shared a poll of 1,500 Americans by YouGov that they commissioned in support of their decision to replace riding with obstacle course racing, citing that

5151-402: The competition took place over four or five days. In 1996 , a one-day format was adopted in a major shift towards the sport's more audience-friendly future. The switch to a one-day format was criticised for changing the steady character of modern pentathlon to a more fast-paced competition. To further enhance the experience for spectators, the UIPM proposed that all five events should be held in

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5252-561: The cycle and run to follow. Many triathletes use altered swim strokes to compensate for turbulent, aerated water and to conserve energy for a long swim. In addition, the majority of triathlons involve open-water (outdoor) swim stages, rather than pools with lane markers. As a result, triathletes in the swim stage must jockey for position, and can gain some advantage by drafting , following a competitor closely to swim in their slipstream . Triathletes will often use " dolphin kicking " and diving to make headway against waves, and body surfing to use

5353-582: The cycling stage finishes back at the same transition area. Racers enter the transition area, rack their bicycles, and quickly change into running shoes before heading out for the final stage. The running stage usually ends at a separate finish line near the transition area. In most races, " aid stations " located on the bike and run courses provide water and energy drinks to the athletes as they pass by. Aid stations at longer events may often provide various types of food as well, including such items as energy bars , energy gels , fruit, cookies, soup, and ice. Once

5454-432: The distance to 3.2 kilometres) each preceded by laser shooting at five targets in 50 seconds or less. This change was intended to restore some of the importance of the shooting skill felt to have been lost in the original 2009 combined event. After the 2020 Summer Olympics (postponed to 2021), the run was further modified to a new model of five 600 m laps. The laser-run has been criticized as altering too radically

5555-551: The enjoyment of the sport instead of vying for official triathlon placing, wetsuits can often be used at other temperatures. Race directors will sometimes discourage or ban wetsuits if the water temperature is above 29 °C (84 °F) due to overheating that can occur while wearing a wetsuit. Other rules have been implemented by race organizers regarding both wetsuit thickness as well as the use of "swim skins;" which need to be considered by those participating in future triathlons. Some triathlon sanctioning bodies have placed limits on

5656-460: The entrance of Fiesta Island, and a final crawl up a steep dirt bank to finish. Most participants were not skilled swimmers, so Johnstone recruited his 13-year-old son to float on his surfboard and act as lifeguard. Some participants took longer than expected, and it began to get dark as they finished their swims. Shanahan recalls they pulled up a few cars and turned on the headlights so the athletes could see. Johnstone and Shanahan were surprised by

5757-507: The equestrian discipline as part of the sport. The group stated, "A total of 74.18% chose the reformed version of equestrian, which puts horse welfare among the central themes, while concern over the cost and accessibility of the equestrian discipline is also acknowledged in the 16-point plan." Of those polled, Pentathlon United claimed that only athletes from the United Kingdom showed any support for an obstacle race, with athletes from

5858-402: The event is being electronically timed, a timing band. Athletes will either be provided or briefed on details of the course, rules, and any problems to look out for (road conditions, closures, traffic lights, aid stations ). At a major event, such as an Ironman or a long course championship, triathletes may be required to set up and check-in their bike in the transition area a day or two before

5959-555: The event was to be hosted in Monaco , but with the death of Princess Grace in September 1982, the previous agreements fell through. IMG refused to cancel the event so it was reorganised to be hosted in Nice , France. The first Nice Triathlon was held on 20 November 1982 where fifty seven competitors took the start, for an ill-defined competition that consisted of 1,500 m (0.93 mi) of swimming, 100 km (62 mi) of cycling and

6060-456: The fencing ranking round – will all take place in the same venue within 90 minutes. The riding discipline attracted criticism during the 2020 Summer Olympics after multiple athletes in the women's event struggled to control their randomly-assigned horses. This culminated in the German team's coach, Kim Raisner , being removed from the event after striking a horse with her fist. Following

6161-702: The first ITU Congress in Avignon , France. After further discussions on the way forward to reach the Olympics, including the refusal to follow the path of the UIPMB and how triathlon should develop both economically and as a sport, the Congress endorsed the creation of the International Triathlon Union and elected its first executive committee. McDonald was elected president. The city of Avignon

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6262-419: The first Olympic Games was Olympia in 708 BCE. As the events of the ancient pentathlon were modelled on the skills of the ideal soldier to defend a fortification of that time, Coubertin created the contest to simulate the experience of a 19th-century cavalry soldier behind enemy lines: he must ride an unfamiliar horse, fight enemies with pistol and sword, swim, and run to return to his own soldiers. The event

6363-609: The first Olympic gold medal by an African pentathlete at the 2024 Summer Olympics . Hungary has won the most Olympic gold medals after Michelle Gulyas became its second women’s Olympic champion at Paris 2024.   The initial program of the 2028 Olympics did not include modern pentathlon, but the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai, India, voted to approve the inclusion of the sport with its new format where obstacle racing replaces equestrian. Modern pentathlon's governing body, Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), administers

6464-410: The hands is prohibited. Should a competitor's bike malfunction they can proceed with the race as long as they are doing so with their bicycle in tow. There are also strict rules regarding the 'bike mount' line. Competitors may not begin riding their bicycle out of transition until they are over a clearly marked line. Mounting the bike prior to this may incur a penalty (example: a 15-second time penalty at

6565-487: The international sport with member federations in more than 130 countries. The format of the modern pentathlon has changed frequently through the sport's history. Described below is the format that was used in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris: At the 2024 Olympics, the event was run twice for each gender. The first, the semifinals, determined which athletes could participate in the finals. The finals then determines

6666-410: The large majority of triathletes, are often referred to as "age groupers" since they are typically further classified by sex and age; which offers the opportunity to compete against others of one's own gender and age group. The age groups are defined in five- or ten-year intervals. There is typically a lower age limit; which can vary from race to race. In some triathlons, heavier amateur athletes may have

6767-564: The large number of entrants (46), mainly coming from local running clubs. Two notable entrants, Judy and John Collins, would four years later found the event which brought international attention to the new sport: the Hawaii Ironman . The first European triathlon was held on 30 August 1980 in Plzeň , Czechoslovakia . The Netherlands, Belgium and West Germany followed, each of them hosting an event in 1981. But media coverage of these events

6868-529: The late 1970s in Southern California as sports clubs and individuals developed the sport. This history has meant that variations of the sport were created and still exist. It also led to other three-stage races using the name triathlon despite not being continuous or not consisting of swim, bike, and run elements. Triathletes train to achieve endurance, strength and speed. The sport requires focused persistent and periodised training for each of

6969-405: The least TV viewers of all Olympic sports, and also ranked at the bottom for internal Olympic measurements of social engagement. The Greek modern pentathlon coach said, "We are an Olympic sport that is on the edge... We're very, very low down, if not bottom, in a lot of ratings like ticket sales, viewership, and participation". Sports academic Jörg Krieger wrote in 2022 that the sport "suffered from

7070-653: The legitimacy from CONADET, forerunner of the French Triathlon Federation (FFTri), which has been organising triathlon in France since 1984 the French system became standard all over Europe. The first attempt to create a global triathlon entity was the Triathlon Federation International (TFI), it had only 22 members most of which were national European federations. But immediately, fights of influences broke out between

7171-446: The long and standard distance world championship, and that the WTC was not following World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules. If ITU member nations did not comply with International Olympic Committee (IOC) Charter rules they risked being excluded from the Olympic program. However, in 2006, the ITU backed down on its stance allowing national federations to once again sanction WTC events. This was due to an out-of-court settlement days before

7272-544: The medallists. However, the fencing ranking round was only run once and its results were used for both the semifinals and finals. Most sources state that the creator of the modern pentathlon was Baron Pierre de Coubertin , the founder of the modern Olympic Games . One alternative view is provided by researcher Sandra Heck, who concluded that Viktor Balck , the President of the Organizing Committee for

7373-422: The nature of the skills required. The New York Times asked whether the name ought to be changed to "tetrathlon" given that two of the five disciplines had been combined into a single event. Laser-run has also become a sport in its own right with para athlete participation and world championships of its own. It is the summer equivalent of the biathlon winter sport, which involves skiing and shooting. Scoring

7474-510: The objectives to federate the triathlon structures in each European country and to act as a counterbalance to American triathlon in the creation of a future worldwide federation. The following year, the eleven nations that composed the ETU met in Brussels to standardise the national structures of each European country. During this time France dominated discussions, as it was the only federation recognised by its own National Olympic Committee. With

7575-422: The obstacle racing and modern pentathlon communities. Australian gymnast Olivia Vivian —a grand finalist of Australian Ninja Warrior —won the gold in the women's competition. On 9 July 2022, Pentathlon United shared a survey of 213 responses from 40 countries, claiming that 68.5% of the respondents were current athletes, that indicated more than 92% of current modern pentathlon participants wanted to preserve

7676-456: The option to compete against others closer to their own weight since weight is often considered an impediment to speed. As an example, under USA Triathlon rules, " Clydesdale " athletes are those men over 100 kg (220 lb), while " Athena " athletes are women over 75 kg (165 lb). Other races and organizations can choose whether or not to offer Clydesdale- and Athena-type divisions and set their own weight standards. Depending on

7777-509: The past three decades. The event has been condensed from five days to one day and further down to two hours. The latest structure, as of the 2024 Olympics , consists of separate events for fencing, swimming, and equestrian, points from which determine each athlete's starting time in the final event, the laser-run . Egypt has achieved consistent success across multiple age-group world championships, culminating in Ahmed El-Gendy winning

7878-582: The race consisted of a 3 km (1.9 mi) run, a 12 km (7.5 mi) bike ride and the crossing of the river Marne , all staged consecutively and without a break. Throughout the 1920s other bike, run, and swim events appeared in different cities, such as the "Course des Trois Sports" in Marseille and "La Course des Débrouillards" in Poissy . These multisport events would continue to slowly spread and grow in popularity: by 1934 "Les Trois Sports"

7979-527: The race start, leaving it overnight and under guard. On the day of the race, before the start of competition, athletes will generally be provided with a bike rack to hold their bicycle and a small section of ground space for shoes, clothing, etc. in the transition area. In some triathlons, there are two transition areas, one for the swim/bike change, then one for the bike/run change at a different location. Racers are generally categorized into separate professional and amateur categories. Amateurs, who make up

8080-546: The rule set for its 2015 races and would start the unification toward ITU rules on long-distance racing with specific interest on the drafting and penalty rules. In 2017, the ITU and WTC signed a memorandum of understanding in which the two organisations stated they will: Triathlons longer than full distance are classed as ultra-triathlons . Triathlons are not necessarily restricted to these prescribed distances. Distances can be any combination of distance set by race organizers to meet various distance constraints or to attract

8181-464: The standing position from 10 metres distance at a stationary target. The format was that of the 10 metre air pistol competition: each competitor had 20 shots, with 40 seconds allowed for each shot. Beginning with the World Cup events in 2011, in a move designed to improve the safety and sustainability of the sport, laser pistols were used instead of pistols with actual projectiles. There

8282-419: The survey showed that "45% of Gen Z and 41% of Millennials more likely to watch the Olympics on television if it featured a ninja -style obstacle race...taken as a percentage of the U.S. population, this would equate to nearly 45 million more people watching the Games". The UIPM also stated, "More than two-thirds (37%) of survey respondents said they would be more likely to watch the new-look Modern Pentathlon at

8383-555: The swim, as the temperature of the Mediterranean was only 14 °C (57 °F). Despite this criticism IMG's plan succeeded and throughout the 1980s. The Nice Triathlon was, alongside Hawaii, one of the two important long-distance races each year for both prize money and media attention. The year 1985 saw the creation of the first international triathlon structure, the European Triathlon Union (ETU) with

8484-410: The swim. So he petitioned the chairman of the San Diego Track Club who told him he would add a race to the club calendar. But the rest of the race was up to Johnstone to organise, and at the same time he was to contact Don Shanahan so there wouldn't be too many "weird" races on the club schedule. Shanahan told Johnstone that he wanted to include a biking leg to the race; whilst hesitant Johnstone agreed to

8585-464: The swimming stage of some races when the water temperature is below 25.6 °C (78.1 °F)), and prohibitions against interference between athletes. Additionally, the use of flippers or other swim propulsion and flotation aids are illegal in triathlon and can result in disqualification. One rule involving the cycle leg is that the competitor's helmet must be donned before the competitor mounts (or even takes possession of, in certain jurisdictions )

8686-492: The thickness of the wetsuit material. Under World Triathlon and some national governing bodies' rules no wetsuit may have a thickness of more than 5 mm (0.20 in). Triathlon cycling can differ from most professional bicycle racing depending on whether drafting is allowed during competition. In some competitions, like those governed by USA Triathlon and the World Triathlon Corporation, drafting

8787-469: The three disciplines, as well as combination workouts and general strength conditioning. The evolution of triathlon as a distinct sport is difficult to trace with precision. Many, including triathlon historian and author Scott Tinley , consider events in early twentieth century France to be the beginnings of triathlon, with many three element multisport events of differing composition appearing, all called by different names. The earliest record for an event

8888-491: The triathletes have completed the event, there is typically another aid station for them to get water, fruit, and other post-race refreshments. Occasionally, at the end of larger or longer events, the provided amenities and post-race celebrations may be more elaborate. While specific rules for triathlon can vary depending on the governing body (e.g. World Triathlon, USA Triathlon), as well as for an individual race venue, there are some basic universal rules. Traditionally, triathlon

8989-429: The type and size of the race, there may be any of the following methods implemented to start the race. In a mass start, all athletes enter the water and begin the competition following a single start signal. In wave start events, smaller groups of athletes begin the race every few minutes. An athlete's wave is usually determined either by age group or by predicted swim time. Wave starts are more common in shorter races where

9090-425: The water near the transition area. Racers exit out of the water, enter the transition area, and change from their swim gear and into their cycling gear. Competition and pressure for faster times have led to the development of specialized triathlon clothing that is adequate for both swimming and cycling, allowing many racers to have a transition that consists of only removing their wetsuit, cap, and goggles and pulling on

9191-427: Was a unique idea. On Wednesday, September 25, 1974, the race started. It began with a run of a 4.8 km (3 mi) loop, followed by biking twice around Fiesta Island for a total of 8.0 km (5 mi). Entrants would then get off the bikes, take their shoes off and run into the water to swim to the mainland. That was followed by running in bare feet, then swimming again along the bay, then one last swim up to

9292-612: Was almost non-existent. Then in 1982, the event organiser IMG , worked in partnership with the American channel CBS (direct competitor of ABC who held the exclusive rights to Hawaii), to create a new event that would take place in Europe. The initial aim was to establish a new premier competition, the European Triathlon, with the goal of being of the same size and prestige to directly compete with that of Hawaii. Originally,

9393-595: Was also given the honour of hosting the first World Championship. In 1991, the IOC recognized the ITU as the sole governing body for the sport of triathlon at its 97th session in Birmingham , UK. In 1993, the Pan American Games approved triathlon for competition at the 1995 Pan Am Games in Mar del Plata , Argentina. Then in September 1994, triathlon was added to the Olympic program as a medal earning sport at

9494-428: Was being hosted in the city of La Rochelle , though it consisted of three distinct events, swimming a 200 m (660 ft) channel crossing, a 10 km (6 mi) bike competition around the harbour of La Rochelle and the parc Laleu, and a 1.2 km (0.75 mi) run in the stadium André-Barbeau. Throughout this growth with new events appearing no unified rules ever existed and as a whole triathlon would remain

9595-403: Was changed to 200 metres. The distance of the cross-country riding event was reduced from 5 km to 4 km in 1972. For the 1988 Summer Olympics cross-country riding was changed to show jumping. From 1912 to 1988 regular pistols or later sport pistols were used for shooting. From 1989 until 2009, the shooting discipline involved firing a 4.5 mm ( .177 cal ) air pistol in

9696-451: Was first held at the 1912 Olympic Games and has been on the Olympic program continuously ever since. It was a male-only event until the 2000 Games , when an event for women was added. This enabled the sport to achieve gender parity 24 years before the Olympic Games managed this as a whole. A men's team event was added to the Olympic Games in 1952 , and was included in all Summer Olympics until its last appearance in 1992 . Originally,

9797-544: Was from 1901 in Joinville-le-Pont , Val-de-Marne : it called itself " Les Trois Sports " (The Three Sports). It was advertised as an event for "the sportsmen of the time" and consisted of a run, a bicycle and a canoe segment. By 19 June 1921, the event in Joinville-le-Pont had become more like a standard triathlon, with the canoe segment being replaced with a swim. According to the newspaper L'Auto ,

9898-426: Was met with criticism from various athletes and bodies, who considered riding to be integral to modern pentathlon. Some also accused the UIPM of hindering debate in favor of riding during the congress. More than 650 modern pentathletes signed a letter calling for the UIPM executive board to resign in November 2021. A group known as "Pentathlon United" called for the IOC to investigate the UIPM's governance, and proposed

9999-475: Was more cost-effective, would help make the event more attractive to a younger audience, and was "compatible with the DNA of modern pentathlon". The competition course was developed with input from World Obstacle and Japanese broadcaster TBS (producer of the sports competition series Sasuke , whose format has been widely exported under the title Ninja Warrior ), and the event featured a mix of athletes from both

10100-612: Was no official international federation for modern pentathlon, so an IOC committee was set up for the sport making use of the expertise of IOC members. The governing body, Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) was founded in 1948 in Sandhurst, England during the London 1948 Olympic Games. A world championship has been held every year since 1949. The competitions now include men and women's individual and team events together with relay events for men and women and, since 2010,

10201-430: Was originally done by a points-for-place system with the lowest score winning. Since the 1954 World Cup points tables are used for each of the five events and points are added for the final score. This scoring was first used in the 1956 Summer Olympics . The five disciplines were held on a single day — instead of four to six — from the 1996 Summer Olympics onwards. In the 2024 Olympics, all five disciplines – other than

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