What are the distances in triathlon. Triathlon distances. Basics and types

Triathlon- a cyclic sport, continuous triathlon, which includes swimming, cycling and running in the classic version.

A Brief History of Triathlon

Triathlon is a fairly young sport. The concept of triathlon originated in France in the 1920s and 1930s. of the 20th century, where competitions were held similar to modern triathlon, consisting of crossing the canal, cycling and running, and the participants overcame all the stages without interruption.

From the mid-30s to the mid-70s of the last century, there is practically no information about such competitions. In 1974, in California (USA), an athletics club from San Diego organized the first triathlon competitions. Participants competed in a 5.3 mile (8.5 km) run, a 5 mile (8 km) bike race and a 600 yard (549 meter) swim.

In 1978, the first triathlon competition took place under the name Iron Man(Iron Man). The distance, now called the classic or iron, consists of three stages, overcome without interruption: a swim for 2.4 miles (3.86 km), a bike ride for 112 miles (180.25 km) and a run for 26.2 miles ( 42.195 km). The annual World Championship (Ironman World Championship) takes place in Hawaii (USA). It is preceded by a series of Ironman and Ironman 70.3 (Half Ironman) qualifying events around the world. The 50 men and 35 women with the most points go to the Ironman World Championship. Winning this championship, and even participating in it, is a great achievement for a triathlete. Ironman competitions are organized by The World Triathlon Corporation.

In addition to the Ironman series, there are many other races in the world today on the classic iron course, shorter and longer distances.

In 1989, the International Triathlon Union (ITU) was founded, the main task of which was to include triathlon in the Olympic program. Triathlon was included in the program of the Olympic Games in 2000 (Sydney, Australia). olympic triathlon distance these are: 1500 meters swim, 40 km bike ride and 10 km run around the stadium. There are no breaks between disciplines. The official World Triathlon Championship has been held annually since 1989, the multi-stage World Cup - annually since 1991. There is also an ITU World Long Distance Championship. Currently, under the auspices of the ITU, competitions are also held in duathlon (running + cycling), aquathlon (running + swimming + running), winter triathlon (cross-country + cyclo-cross + cross-country skiing), indoor triathlon. An interesting fact is that "aquathlon" is also called underwater wrestling.

Development ultratriathlon, the distances of which exceed the classical (iron) distance by 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20 times, the International Ultratriathlon Association (IUTA) is engaged in. Competitions in deca ultratriathlon (10 iron distances) and double deca triathlon (20 iron distances) are held in different ways: in the first case, participants first overcome the entire swimming distance, then the entire cycling distance, and finally the entire running distance; in the second case, the athlete passes one iron distance during the day. All ultratriathlon distances include sleep breaks.

Triathlon distances

The popularity of triathlon in the world is growing rapidly. Many competitions are held annually at a large number of different distances, under the auspices of various sports organizations. It may not be necessary to know and understand them all. The main triathlon distances are presented in the table below.

Name	Organization	Distances
		Swimming	Bike
super sprint
Sprint (SD)
Olympic (OD)
Double Olympic (2 x OD)
Long ITU (3 x OD)
Half Iron (Half Iroman, episode 70.3)
Iron (classical, Iroman)
Double ultra triathlon

General triathlon rules

Triathlon competitions always take place in strict order: first swimming, then cycling and finally running. Let us consider in more detail the course of the individual stages of triathlon competitions*:

• Swimming

  Competitions begin with swimming. In triathlon and aquathlon, swimming starts from the start and ends with the exit from the water next to the transit zone (a special fenced area that is not part of the swimming, cycling or running distance, where the athletes’ things intended for competitions are located - clothing, equipment, inventory).

  The start of the participants is carried out from the pontoon, from the shore, or directly from the water (long triathlon).

  You can swim in any style, but the fastest swimming method is usually used - crawl on the chest. You are allowed to swim underwater. At the beginning and end of each circle, you can push off the bottom with your feet. Athletes are allowed to stand on the bottom or rest, holding on to fixed objects and objects (buoys, boats). If a member is having problems. He must raise his hand and wait for help, after giving help he leaves the competition.

  Athletes move along the distance indicated by buoys and cables. It is forbidden to shorten the route; each such violation leads to penalty points or even disqualification.

  During the swim, competitors use, nose clips can also be used. At temperatures below +14 °C at a distance of up to 1500 meters inclusive, +16 °C at a distance above the Olympic, it is mandatory to use a wetsuit with a thickness of up to 5 mm. At temperatures above +20 °C at a distance of up to 1500 meters inclusive, above +22 °C at a distance above the Olympic one, it is not allowed to use a wetsuit. The swimming distance may be shortened or canceled due to temperature (water and air) and weather conditions (eg strong wind, hail, rain).

  Athletes are prohibited from using accelerating devices, socks and gloves, fabric covering the arms or legs, only the lower part of the wetsuit at the swimming distance.

  After getting out of the water, the participants change in the transit area and get on the bikes.

• bicycle race

  The cycle path starts at the place where you get on the bike and ends at the place where you get off. On the cycling track, you must ride a bicycle, carry or lead it in marked corridors.

  It is forbidden to impede the movement of other participants in the competition, to interfere with other athletes while changing clothes and preparing bicycles.

  By default, participants follow the rules of the road in the country where the competition is held.

  Drafting or leading (following in a 10-meter aerodynamic zone behind the competitor riding in front) may or may not be allowed. In competitions where drafting is prohibited, a competitor may enter the drafting area only for a short time for the purpose of overtaking. Violation of the drafting rules in competitions with prohibited drafting leads to a temporary penalty, repeated violations to disqualification.

  The technical characteristics of bicycles are strictly prescribed in the rules.

  While the athlete is on the bike, removing or placing the bike on the rack, during any stay of the athlete on the track, he must be wearing a helmet. Athletes must wear a bicycle uniform regulated by the rules.

• Run

  In triathlon and aquathlon, the running track starts from the exit from the transit zone and ends at the finish line.

  The athlete can move along the track by running or walking. Crawling (when the athlete contacts the ground with three or more limbs simultaneously or consecutively in order to move forward) is not allowed.

  It is not allowed to run bare-chested, without shoes, with a bicycle helmet on your head.

  Accompanying the athlete by other persons is prohibited.

  You can not use stationary objects to help in cornering (for example, clinging to trees).

* Conducting triathlon competitions in Russia is regulated by the Rules of the sport "triathlon", approved by order of the Ministry of Sports of Russia dated December 31, 2013 No. 1141

The specifics of swimming in triathlon and open water

Swimming in open water is quite different from swimming in a pool. Indeed, in the reservoir there is no drawn line at the bottom of the pool, sides and wave absorbers. In order to successfully swim in open water, an athlete must have such skills How:

• the ability to navigate the water, swim along a strictly defined route;
• the ability to swim in a straight line, to perform turns at the buoys;
• the ability to swim in a wetsuit;
• art (the ability to keep directly behind a faster swimming swimmer or a little behind on the side of him);
• the ability to control excitement, especially at the time of the collective start, when a large number of swimmers are in a limited space at once;
• the ability to choose the most effective strategy and adapt to changing conditions during the swim.

Triathlon is considered one of the toughest sports in the world for a reason! A triathlete must be strong, able to adapt to different weather conditions, and be proficient in three separate sports. Nowadays, triathlon is becoming more and more popular. After all, doing triathlon at an amateur level for your health is both useful and not boring!

There are quite a few sports that people don't even know about. For example, if you ask any passer-by on the street, he will definitely know about football or hockey. However, not everyone knows about triathlon. Today we will talk about this unusual sport.

This sport is quite new. His story begins in the twenties twentieth century. In those days, this sport was not considered official. Athletes simply arranged triathlon competitions, but the distances were completely different. Not the same as now.

Triathlon was recognized as an official sport in 1974. And it was included in the program of the Olympic Games in 2000. This sport consists of three stages:

1. Swimming.
2. Cycling.
3. Run.

Distances are provided for each of these stages. For example, a triathlon beginner's level is a 100m swim, a 10k bike, and a 1k run.

Triathlon professional level is called "Iron Man". To become a well-deserved Iron Man, you must overcome the following:

1. Swimming for 3 kilometers and 860 meters.
2. Bicycle race 120 kilometers long.
3. Marathon race - 42195 meters.

Surely these figures seem simply unimaginable to you. The way it is. To pass such a test, you need to train for at least 3 years. We will talk about this a little later.

Everything is not as simple as it might seem. Triathlon has certain rules. Competitions begin with a swim. If the distance is short, then the participants swim in the pool . It is necessary to swim in a special wetsuit. Any attempt by the participant to reduce the distance is unacceptable. If this was noticed, then the participant is removed from the competition. If the distance of the swim is long, then the participants have to swim in some kind of reservoir. For example, in a river or lake. The organizers of the competition prepare the reservoir in advance.

The swim is followed by a bike race. Competitors are required to change after the swim. By the way, you need to change clothes quickly. After all, all three stages are overcome for a while. And dressing between them is also included in this time. During the race, the participant must wear a helmet. It is forbidden to remove it until the end of this stage.

After the bike ride, athletes also need to change clothes. During the race, it is allowed to walk the distance if you can no longer run or are injured. During the race, athletes are allowed to wear a special belt, on which flasks with water, isotonic drinks can be attached. , and sachets of energy gels.

Competitors at all stages are prohibited from interfering with their rivals. This also leads to disqualification, as well as attempts to shorten the distance.

About the triathlon federation

In our country, triathlon championships are held quite annually. Athletes from our country have participated in the world triathlon championships several times. In 2011, Alexander Bryukhanov showed the best result. At the world championship, he took fifth place.

The Russian Triathlon Federation was founded in 2005. You can find the main triathlon news in our country on the official website of the triathlon federation: ftr.org.ru/. There you can find out about the nearest amateur and professional championships that will be held in Russia. You can also find information about the regulations of the planned events there. This information will be useful to you if you are interested in this sport.

Winter triathlon

This is a winter sport.. It consists of three stages:

1. Race for a distance of 7-9 kilometers.
2. Bicycle race with a length of 12-14 kilometers.
3. Ski race with a length of 10-12 kilometers.

All this happens in winter conditions. The distances here are quite small, but it only seems. In the cold it is much more difficult to run and ride a bike. Therefore, this distance is comparable in complexity to the Tristar 111. If you are interested, look at the triathlon distances on the official website of the federation, or on Wikipedia.

This version of the triathlon is not as popular as the summer one. Almost all people in the topic associate triathlon with a swim and a very long bike race.

Ski triathlon

Ski triathlon is summer and winter. We talked about the winter version above. And in the summer, everything is exactly the same, only instead of skis, the participants of the competition move on roller skates. At the same time, they are repelled from the ground with special sticks.

At each stage, the distance is greater than in the winter version of the ski triathlon. After all, in the summer it is much easier to breathe while running and cycling.

A little about the book "Iron Man is in everyone"

All people who are involved in triathlon or just thinking about it, this book will be very useful. Its author is John Callos - an ordinary American. In his youth, he played football, but then, due to an injury, he had to quit his favorite sport. He loved football very much, and it was hard for him to stop playing it, because he lived it.

After that, John plunged headlong into work. He built a good career in the bank, going from an ordinary employee to a senior manager. Until the age of 45, he devoted almost all his time to making money, completely ignoring his physical form.

On his forty-fifth birthday, he was horrified when he was able to admit to himself that he was terribly fat. This fact made him very depressed that he could not think of anything other than losing weight.

John tried to lose weight with the help of diets, but this did not help him much, and then he decided to go in for sports again. He learned about triathlon and started doing it. He set himself on fire to become Iron Man, going a long way.

In this book, he described how he practiced daily for three years. The most difficult thing he faced was psychological difficulties. Now every athlete will understand him, because periodically there is a depressed state, and I don't want to exercise.. It is at this moment that you need to overpower yourself, and, gritting your teeth, go forward.

John paid special attention to nutrition during training and the passage of the distance. Not many athletes know that during such loads the body needs at least 500 milliliters of water per hour. And it is also necessary to take energy gels so that there are forces to complete the distance to the end. After all, triathletes are under load from 8 to 14 hours.

John described the feeling he experienced after walking this distance. This feeling can only be understood by someone who has experienced the same thing. Just imagine falling asleep and waking up with the same thought for almost four years. And also spend every week 20-25 hours a week on training, and, most importantly, a bunch of nerves.

At the end of his book, John said that the driving force in this matter is a burning desire to achieve your goal. What is needed is a goal that will keep you awake at night and make you wake up easily in the morning. After the feeling of victory, there is a certain feeling of emptiness. To avoid it, a new goal is needed that will ignite you. John currently has an Ultra Triathlon. And this is 2 times more than the deserved "Iron Man" should pass.

If you run all the time and you really like it. However, you want something more and different. Try triathlon. Even if you reach the amateur level, then the problem of excess weight will disappear by itself.

There is no limit to improvement, and triathlon is a very vivid confirmation of this. If you can't imagine your life without prolonged aerobic exercise then triathlon is exactly what you need!

Distances in triathlon are conditionally divided into two types: "short" drafting distances (Olympic and shorter); and long distances where cycling lead is prohibited. The most widespread are the Olympic and sprint distances. Iron distance and ITU long distance are also popular.
However, there are other options - therefore, we will give them.

Triathlon - distances

Title (abbreviation)	Swimming	bicycle race		Promoter	drafting?	Competitions
Olympic (OD)						Olympics, World and European Championships
Sprint (SD)						World and European Championship among juniors
super sprint
"Youthful"						as a 3x ITU relay leg
"Folk"
Long ITU (3xOD)						ITU World Long Distance Championships
2x Olympic (2xOD)						In ITU rules since 2006
Iron						Ironman, as well as independent starts
semi-iron						Ironman 70.4 and independent starts

The Olympic distance, representing triathlon in the program of the Olympics, is the main format for high-level international starts, world and continental Championships. The sprint distance is used for junior international starts.
It is these two distances that are most often used for local amateur competitions. The super sprint distance is usually used only in club starts. Competitions for the "folk" distance are usually held "in addition" to the main starts in order to popularize the species. Often teenage competitions are held at this distance. *

Relay in triathlon, XC-triathlon, aquathlon, duathlon.
Relay in triathlon is a competition of teams of three people, each of which sequentially overcomes the swimming, cycling and running segments. The competition is held from a single start, the distance for one participant is 0.3-8-2. **

Cross country triathlon- a combination of swimming, cross-country cycling, and cross-country running. The distance of the most famous series of xc-triathlons - Xterra - is proportional to the Olympic and is usually 1.5 km swimming, 30 km cross-country cycling and 11 km cross-country running. But depending on local conditions, the length of the segments can vary markedly.

Under the ITU umbrella, there are aquathlon and duathlon.
duathlon- a combination of running, cycling and running again. World Championships have been held since 1990.
Aquathlon- a combination of running, swimming and running again. World Championships - since 1998

Winter triathlon
The winter triathlon is a combination of running, cross country cycling and cross country skiing. This new discipline, cultivated by the ITU, was planned to be presented at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. World Championships have been held since 1997.
If in the triathlon, cross-country triathlon, duathlon and aquathlon the same athletes usually compete (and win prizes), then the winter triathlon stands apart.

Ultratriathlon.
There are also longer distances in triathlon than iron - the so-called. ultratriathlons. Usually these are double or triple iron distances, every few years there are starts at 10 and 20 times the iron distance. All these are multi-day starts, implying sleep breaks.
Ultratriathlons are not recognized by the ITU, other promotional organizations (WTC and Xterra) also distance themselves from such starts. Ultratriathlons are not mass events. The number of participants in such starts is small: from half a dozen to two dozen people. In total, there will be no more than 20-30 people around the world who adhere to such distances. ***

Notes.
* -- Lance Armstrong, then still a schoolboy, took part in one of these youth competitions - and won it. He continued his performances in triathlon, becoming known as the youngest professional triathlete. Armstrong won the U.S. Junior Triathlon Championship (sprint) twice. And only then did he move from non-Olympic then triathlon to cycling.
** -- Previously, the triathlon relay race had a different format: the teams consisted of 5 people, the team members covered the distance together, the finish of the team was fixed by the finish of the third participant - thus. the rest could not finish. The competition was held with a separate start at a distance of 1.5-40-10
*** -- For comparison, a typical WTC Ironman has over 1,500 starts. The largest iron triathlon in Europe - Quelle Challenge Roth - gathered in 2006 more than 2300 participants. Moreover, all these starts usually have a limit on the number of participants, which is selected long before the start date. As for short distances, here the number of participants is even more significant. The largest triathlon in the world is Chicago, where more than 8,000 participants start. However, short triathlons are strong not by the number of participants at a time, but by the total number of starts. The USAT (USA Triathlon Federation) calendar contains over 1800 officially registered starts.

1. Task 1 of 15

   1 .

   Are the Rules violated in the situations depicted?

   Right
   

   f) tow bicycles;

   Wrong
   

   6. Requirements for cyclists

   6.6. The cyclist is prohibited from:

   d) hold on to another vehicle while driving;

   f) tow bicycles;

2. Task 2 of 15

   2 .

   Which cyclist does not break the rules?

   

   Right
   

   6. Requirements for cyclists

   6.6. The cyclist is prohibited from:

   Wrong
   

   6. Requirements for cyclists

   6.6. The cyclist is prohibited from:

   b) move on motorways and roads for cars, as well as on the carriageway, if there is a bicycle path nearby;

3. Task 3 of 15

   3 .

   Who must give way?

   

   Right
   

   6. Requirements for cyclists

   Wrong
   

   6. Requirements for cyclists

   6.5. If the cycle path crosses the road outside the intersection, cyclists must give way to other vehicles moving on the road.

4. Task 4 of 15

   4 .

   What loads are allowed to be carried by a cyclist?

   

   Right
   

   6. Requirements for cyclists

   22. Shipping

   Wrong
   

   6. Requirements for cyclists

   6.4. A cyclist may only carry loads that do not interfere with the cycling and do not obstruct other road users.

   22. Shipping

   22.3. Carriage of cargo is permitted provided that it:

   b) does not violate the stability of the vehicle and does not complicate its management;

5. Task 5 of 15

   5 .

   Which cyclist violates the Rules when carrying passengers?

   

   Right
   

   6. Requirements for cyclists

   6.6. The cyclist is prohibited from:

   Wrong
   

   6. Requirements for cyclists

   6.6. The cyclist is prohibited from:

   e) carry passengers on a bicycle (with the exception of children under 7 years of age who are transported on an additional seat equipped with securely fastened footrests);

6. Task 6 of 15

   6 .

   In what order will the vehicles pass through the intersection?

   

   Right
   

   16. Passage of intersections

   
   

   Wrong
   

   16. Passage of intersections

   16.11. At the intersection of unequal roads, the driver of a vehicle moving along a secondary road must give way to vehicles approaching this intersection of carriageways along the main road, regardless of the direction of their further movement.

   16.12. At the intersection of equivalent roads, the driver of a non-rail vehicle must give way to vehicles approaching from the right.
   This rule should be guided by each other and tram drivers. At any unregulated intersection, a tram, regardless of the direction of its further movement, has an advantage over non-rail vehicles approaching it along an equivalent road.

   16.14. If the main road changes direction at the intersection, the drivers of vehicles moving along it must be guided by the rules for passing the intersections of equivalent roads.
   This rule should be guided by each other and drivers moving on secondary roads.

7. Task 7 of 15

   7 .

   Cycling on sidewalks and footpaths:

   

   Right
   

   6. Requirements for cyclists

   6.6. The cyclist is prohibited from:

   Wrong
   

   6. Requirements for cyclists

   6.6. The cyclist is prohibited from:

   c) move along sidewalks and footpaths (except for children under 7 years old on children's bicycles under adult supervision);

8. Task 8 of 15

   8 .

   Who has the right of way at the intersection with the bike lane?

   

   Right
   

   6. Requirements for cyclists

   6.5. If the cycle path crosses the road outside the intersection, cyclists must give way to other vehicles moving on the road.

   Wrong
   

   6. Requirements for cyclists

   6.5. If the cycle path crosses the road outside the intersection, cyclists must give way to other vehicles moving on the road.

9. Task 9 of 15

   9 .

   What distance should be between groups of cyclists moving in a column?

   

   Right
   

   6. Requirements for cyclists

   Wrong
   

   6. Requirements for cyclists

   6.3. Cyclists, moving in groups, must ride one after another so as not to interfere with other road users. A column of cyclists moving along the carriageway should be divided into groups (up to 10 cyclists in a group) with a distance of 80-100 m between groups.

10. Task 10 of 15

    10 .

    Vehicles will pass the intersection in the following order

    

    Right
    

    16. Passage of intersections

    16.11. At the intersection of unequal roads, the driver of a vehicle moving along a secondary road must give way to vehicles approaching this intersection of carriageways along the main road, regardless of the direction of their further movement.

    Wrong
    

    16. Passage of intersections

    16.11. At the intersection of unequal roads, the driver of a vehicle moving along a secondary road must give way to vehicles approaching this intersection of carriageways along the main road, regardless of the direction of their further movement.

    16.13. Before turning left and making a U-turn, the driver of a non-rail vehicle is obliged to give way to a tram in the opposite direction, as well as to vehicles moving on the same road in the opposite direction straight or to the right.

11. Task 11 of 15

    11 .

    The cyclist passes the intersection:

    

    Right
    

    16. Passage of intersections

    Wrong
    

    8. Traffic regulation

    8.3. The signals of the traffic controller take precedence over traffic signals and traffic signs and are mandatory. Traffic lights, except for flashing yellow, take precedence over road signs of priority. Drivers and pedestrians must comply with the additional requirements of the traffic controller, even if they contradict traffic signals, traffic signs and markings.

    16. Passage of intersections

    16.6. When turning left or turning around at the green signal of the main traffic light, the driver of a non-rail vehicle is obliged to give way to a tram in the same direction, as well as vehicles moving in the opposite direction straight or turning right. This rule should be guided by each other and tram drivers.

12. Task 12 of 15

    12 .

    Flashing red signals of this traffic light:

    

    Right
    

    8. Traffic regulation

    Wrong
    

    8. Traffic regulation

    8.7.6. To regulate traffic at railway crossings, traffic lights with two red signals or one white-moon and two red signals are used, having the following meanings:

    a) flashing red signals prohibit the movement of vehicles through the crossing;
    

    b) a flashing white-moon signal indicates that the alarm system is working and does not prohibit the movement of vehicles.

    At railway crossings, simultaneously with a prohibitory signal of a traffic light, an audible signal may be turned on, additionally informing road users about the prohibition of movement through the crossing.

13. Task 13 of 15

    13 .

    Which vehicle driver will pass the intersection second?

    

    Right
    

    16. Passage of intersections

    16.11. At the intersection of unequal roads, the driver of a vehicle moving along a secondary road must give way to vehicles approaching this intersection of carriageways along the main road, regardless of the direction of their further movement.

    16.14. If the main road changes direction at the intersection, the drivers of vehicles moving along it must be guided by the rules for passing the intersections of equivalent roads.
    

    This rule should be guided by each other and drivers moving on secondary roads.

    Wrong
    

    16. Passage of intersections

    16.11. At the intersection of unequal roads, the driver of a vehicle moving along a secondary road must give way to vehicles approaching this intersection of carriageways along the main road, regardless of the direction of their further movement.

    16.14. If the main road changes direction at the intersection, the drivers of vehicles moving along it must be guided by the rules for passing the intersections of equivalent roads.
    

    This rule should be guided by each other and drivers moving on secondary roads.

    16 Crossings

    Wrong
    

    8. Traffic regulation

    8.7.3. Traffic lights have the following meanings:

    A signal in the form of an arrow, allowing a left turn, also allows a U-turn, if it is not prohibited by traffic signs.

    The signal in the form of a green arrow (arrows) in the additional (additional) section (sections), turned on together with a green traffic light, informs the driver that he has an advantage in the direction (directions) indicated by the arrow (arrows) over vehicles moving from other directions;

    f) a red signal, including a flashing one, or two red flashing signals prohibit movement.

    A signal in the form of a green arrow (arrows) in the additional (additional) section (s) together with a yellow or red traffic light signal informs the driver that movement is allowed in the indicated direction, provided that vehicles moving from other directions are allowed to pass unhindered.

    The green arrow on the plate, installed at the level of the red signal of a traffic light with a vertical arrangement of signals, allows movement in the indicated direction when the red traffic light is on from the rightmost lane (or the leftmost lane on one-way roads), subject to the provision of an advantage in traffic to its other participants moving from other directions to a traffic light signal allowing movement;

    16 Crossings

    16.9. While driving in the direction of the arrow switched on in the additional section at the same time as the yellow or red traffic light, the driver must give way to vehicles moving from other directions.

    While driving in the direction of the green arrow on the table set at the level of the red traffic light with a vertical arrangement of signals, the driver must take the extreme right (left) lane and give way to vehicles and pedestrians moving from other directions.

Hello, my dear readers. My today's article will be enlightening about triathlon. From this article you will learn what triathlon is in sports, winter, summer, types of triathlon, the subtleties of this unusual sport.

Already based on the name, you can guess that we will talk about some kind of sports all-around, which includes three sports.

Classical triathlon belongs to summer sports and includes the following sports disciplines: open water swimming, running and cycling. Depending on the distances in each of the listed disciplines, the format of the triathlon competitions also varies.

In our article, we will dwell on the various options for triathlon, but for now let's start from the very beginning.

History of occurrence

The laurels of the homeland of modern triathlon are rightfully taken by France. It was in this European country, in the 20s of the last century, that competitions were held, in their format as close as possible to the modern triathlon.

Those competitions looked like this: the athletes ran a 3-kilometer distance, rode a bicycle for 12 kilometers, and then swam over a water channel, about 200 meters wide.

The new sports fun was liked not only by the inhabitants of France. In the future, this sport gradually earned popularity in Europe and North America. It was in Hawaii that the first official competitions were held at distances that later became classic in triathlon.

Distances

At present, the distances in this sports all-around can be divided into two conditional groups: short distances, which include the distance included in the program of the Summer Olympic Games, and long distances.

Long-distance competitions are held with certain restrictions associated with the ban on breaking away on cycling stages. Do not forget that in triathlon competitions of any level, a certain sequence of stages is maintained: swimming - cycling - running.

So, let's take a closer look at the most common distances:

Olympic.
It includes one and a half kilometers in water, then forty kilometers on a bicycle, and as a conclusion, a ten-kilometer running distance. It is this format that is used at the World Championships, as well as at all competitions held under the auspices of the International Triathlon Federation.

Sprint.
Unlike the Olympic, each of the distances is halved: 0.75+20+5. In the international format, competitions at such a distance are usually held for youth.

Super sprint.
Another two times reduced (0.375 + 10 + 2.5 km.), Usually used at the amateur level or for beginners in triathlon.

Iron.
Swimming 3.86 km. + bike 180 km. + running distance 42.2 km. The most popular competition in the triathlon world. To overcome such a distance, the athlete must have excellent. Even participation in such a race is highly rated in the sports world, and prize-winners and winners remain forever in the history of triathlon.

competitive process

At the initial stage of the triathlon competition, each athlete is allocated an individual place in the so-called transit zone. There, athletes store their equipment and equipment, in this case a bicycle.

After distribution into individual zones, athletes are invited to start the first type of triathlon - swimming in open water.

Taking into account the fact that all athletes start at the same time, it is important to be in the leading group at the first meters of the distance, otherwise it will be quite difficult to catch up with the leaders during the swim.

The distance traditionally has a triangular shape. The generally accepted style of swimming in which athletes go through the swimming stage is crawl. It is by swimming in this style that it is possible to develop the greatest speed. But still, it must be borne in mind that competitions in the water are not won. It is almost impossible to make a significant break while swimming, usually the main task of athletes at the first stage is to finish in the leader group.

After the end of the swimming stage, the athlete takes the bike from his transit place, puts on a helmet and goes to the exit from the transit zone. And only after leaving the transit zone, the athlete has the right to start cycling.

The cycling stage is key in terms of fighting for victory. There are many different strategies for running a cycling stage. It all depends on the individual training of the athlete, his physical form at the moment of the competition.

Someone is trying to get ahead, creating the necessary reserve for himself before the running part of the all-around. Athletes, confident in their abilities at the running stage, try to save their strength as much as possible and finish the second stage in the general group.

The second stage also ends in the transit area, where athletes leave their bikes, change shoes and go to. It is in running that the strongest is determined. Often, the winner is revealed by the last meters of the distance, when the winner is revealed in the finish line.

Varieties of triathlon

As often happens in popular sports disciplines, on the basis of one sport, many similar types are formed, but with certain differences. Triathlon was no exception, serving as the basis for a number of related sports. Here are some of them:

The winter triathlon stands apart, where swimming is replaced by cross-country skiing. This discipline seriously claims to be included in the program of the Winter Olympic Games and one cannot exclude the possibility that the winter triathlon will eventually compete in popularity with its summer counterpart.

Here is the basic information about this curious sport, subject only to comprehensively developed people. What is triathlon in sports, winter, summer, other variations of this sport, all this is reflected in this article. On this I say goodbye to you, subscribe to blog updates, I look forward to your comments on this and other articles, see you soon!

Sincerely, Vladimir Manerov

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Comments on the article: 15

1. Dima 2016-10-31 at 18:18

   I love watching triathlon competitions on TV. It seems to me that this is a rather difficult sport, requiring special endurance and universal skills from the athlete.

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2. Ivan 2016-11-01 at 00:22

   Triathlon is a great way to prepare an athlete in a variety of ways, as he is not fixated on one sport, but develops in several at once. I myself like to watch such competitions, especially at the Olympics.

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3. Alex 2016-11-04 at 00:14

   I love such sports when an athlete needs to develop various skills in himself, and not be highly specialized. That's just the triathlon allows you to show the versatility of the athlete.

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4. Gregory 2016-11-04 at 12:48

   Triathlon is very popular in Moscow. By the way, in Krylatskoye all conditions for competitions are created. As they say, "everything is at hand." There are also places for classes in the Moscow region, Bronnitsy, for example.

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5. Dmitry 2016-11-14 at 19:41

   At first glance, it seems that there is nothing complicated here - I ran, swam, rode a distance on a bicycle and that's it! But no! Here such endurance is needed - tin!

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6. Victor 2017-08-09 at 12:14

   A very interesting sport! This is where you really need to practice a lot. When I saw the “Olympic distance”, I immediately thought: wow, but, in principle, it’s real. And after reading up to "Iron Distance" my jaw just dropped! Is it really possible..

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7. Ivan 2017-08-09 at 21:22

   Triathlon, as far as I know, takes its roots from the all-around, which was practiced at the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, only there, in addition to programs designed primarily for endurance, there were also strength elements: wrestling, discus throwing, etc. By the way, before something similar is still practiced in the so-called military triathlon or officer all-around. True, shooting from firearms has also been added here, which, of course, could not have been in antiquity.

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8. Olga 2017-08-10 at 06:44

   An interesting and very difficult sport, but it seems to me quite expensive. It will take several salaries in the province to buy a good bike and a quality wetsuit. That's probably why it's not common here.

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9. Oksana 2017-08-10 at 14:28

   I always considered various all-around events, including triathlon, to be one of the most difficult sports, because in order to win they need to be the best in several sports. Therefore, you need to train more, and even in parallel with different sports directions. In addition, for this kind of sport for each workout you need different equipment, which is expensive. In our town, no one is engaged in triathlon and will not be engaged - too much expensive sports equipment is needed.

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10. oleg035 2017-08-10 at 23:23

    Triathletes are cool guys. This is called a harmoniously developed personality. But it’s not at all easy to develop different muscle groups and be a pro in three disciplines at once. Keep it up!

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11. fedor07 on 2017-08-11 at 07:23

    Their versatile training causes surprise and “white” envy. But ... this, after all, requires large investments. For example, for a summer triathlon, there must be a pool for swimming, a track for cycling and running. And how great are the successes of our country in this sport?

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12. Elena 2017-08-11 at 14:59

    I recently discovered that triathlon is very popular in the Urals. In July, I managed to get to the competitions and watch in person, and not on TV, the spectacle is breathtaking! Participants of both distances inspire respect for their preparation and willpower. What was especially pleasing was that there were many participants, young people willingly came from other cities.

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13. Michael 2017-08-11 at 22:17

    Triathlon is one of the types of all-around, that is, a kind of sport that was one of the fundamental Olympic disciplines back in ancient Greece. Triathlon requires special physical preparation and endurance, as different muscle groups work. An interesting and spectacular sport.

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14. Elena 2017-08-12 at 08:04

    Triathlon competitions always arouse my interest much more than other sports, probably due to their diversity. I never miss these reports and root for the participants I like).

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15. Dmitry 2017-08-12 at 16:38

    Triathlon is a truly integrated approach to training - the body is fully worked out, and the loads are natural, it is unrealistic to achieve this in the gym. It is a pity that there are not so many sites for practicing this sport.

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