Introduction to triathlon:

• Triathlon is a multi-discipline sport consisting of swimming, cycling and running.
• Competitors race against the clock, which starts as they enter the swim and stops as they cross the finish line after the run. This includes time splits for each of the separate disciplines.
• For this reason, triathlon is often reported as having a 'fourth discipline' known as the transition. The transition is the point in the race when competitors change from swimming to cycling (T1) , and from cycling to running (T2).

History of triathlon:

• The origins of Triathlon may have started in France in the early 20th century, but modern triathlon has its origins in west coast America in the 1970’s, when groups of swimmers, cyclists and runners started to combine the sports to race against each other.
• The International Triathlon Union was founded on the 1st of April 1989, at the first ITU Congress in Avignon, France. A total of 30 National Federations attended the initial Congress and preparations were made for the sport’s first World Championships to be held in Avignon in August of 1989. At this meeting the Olympic distance was set at a 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run.
• Triathlon was officially added to the Olympic Programme by the IOC at its Congress in Paris in 1994. Triathlon made its Olympic debut at the 2000 Games in Sydney.
• On August 25th 2009, the Egyptian Triathlon Federation was established, headed by Major General/Ahmed Nasser.

Triathlon competitions:

• The triathlon competitions consist of four categories: triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon, and the winter triathlon.
• The Triathlon: consists of three sports contained within the same challenge. These three sports are swimming, cycling, and running all performed consecutively with no breaks only a transmission after each full challenge
• . The Duathlon: consists of two sports and three challenges which are running, cycling, followed by running again all performed consecutively with no breaks only a transmission after each full challenge.
• The Aquathlon: consists of two sports and three challenges which are running, swimming, followed by running again all performed consecutively with no breaks only a transmission after each exercise.
• The Winter Triathlon: consists of three sports and three challenges which are running, mountain biking, and cross country skiing all performed consecutively with no breaks only a transmission after each exercise. The winter triathlon is usually performed in areas with cold climates and long winters.

Race distances

Youth and junior distances:

• 1/ (8 years old) 50m (swim), 800m (bike), 600m (run).
• 2/ (9-10 years old) 150m (swim), 2km (bike), 1.2km (run).
• 3/ (11-12 years old) 200m (bike), 4km (bike), 1.8km (run).
• 4/ (13-14 years old) 300m (swim), 6km (bike), 2.4km (run).
• 5/ Youth (15-16 years old) can compete up to super sprint distance: 400m (swim), 10km (bike), 2.5km (run).
• 6/ Junior (17-18 years old) can compete up to standard distance: 1.5km (swim), 40km (bike), 10km (run).
• 7/ Junior (19 years old) can compete up to middle distance: 1.9km (swim), 90km (bike), 21km (run).

Adult distances:

• 1/ Super sprint Triathlon: 400m (swim), 10km (bike), 2.5km (run).
• 2/ Sprint Triathlon: 750m (swim), 20km (bike), 5km (run).
• 3/ Standard (Olympic) Triathlon: 1.5km (swim), 40km (bike), 10km (run).
• 4/ 70.3 (Middle Half Ironman) distance: 1.9km (swim), 90km (bike), 21km (run).
• 5/ Full (Long Ironman) distance: 3.8km (swim), 180km (bike), 42km (run).

Duathlon and Aquathlon distances:

• Sprint duathlon distance: 5km (run), 20km (bike), 2.5km (run).
• Standard duathlon distance: 10km (run), 40km (bike), 5km (run).
• Open water aquathlon distance: 1.25km (run), 400m (swim), 1.25km (run).
• Open water aquathlon distance: 2.5km (run), 750m (swim), 2.5km (run).

(The sources: Triathlon development).

Created by: ZaeerTRI Team.