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Triathlon (Olympic sport since 2000)
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History |
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Equipment |
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Glossary |
About
While taekwondo and triathlon both debuted as the newest Olympic sports at the Sydney 2000 Games, triathlon was literally the newest sport. Although the origins of taekwondo date back thousands of years, the triathlon dates back to 1978.
The first triathlon was held in the south-western United States city of San Diego in 1974, in many ways an outgrowth of the California jogging craze. The ultimate endurance test, it requires athletes to excel at three very different pursuits - swimming, cycling and running. The sport demands particularly intense discipline because each area requires a high-level training schedule.
Competition
Triathlon races are held over four distances, labelled Sprint, Olympic, Long Course and Ultra. The Olympic triathlon comprises a 1.5 kilometre swim, a 40km bike ride, and a 10km run.
After a mass start, the race remains continuous, with no stop between the three legs. Changeovers, then, are vital to race strategy. Women are expected to finish in just over two hours, with men requiring about 1 hour 50 minutes. The women race on the opening morning of the Games, followed by the men the next morning.
List of events
-- Individual Men
-- Individual Women
History
Discipline's origin
Triathlon was invented in the early 1970s by the San Diego Track Club, as an alternative workout to the rigours of track training. The club's first event consisted of a 10km run, an 8km cycle and a 500 metre swim.
Over the next decade, triathlon grew by leaps and bounds and soon gained recognition throughout the world. In 1989, the International Triathlon Union (ITU) was founded in Avignon, France, and the first official world championships were held. The official distance for triathlon was set at a 1500 metre swim, a 40km cycle and a 10km run - taken from existing events in each discipline already on the Olympic programme. This standard distance is used for the ITU World Cup series and was also featured at the Sydney Olympic Games.
Since 1989, the sport has grown rapidly and now has over a hundred affiliated national federations around the world.
Olympic history
In 1994, at the International Olympic Committee's Congress in Paris, France, triathlon was awarded full medal status on the Olympic programme and triathlon made its debut at the 2000 Olympic Summer Games in Sydney, Australia. The women's event took place on the first day while the men competed on day two. Triathlon was one of the first medals awarded at the Sydney Olympics. Brigette McMahon (SUI) and Simon Whitfield (CAN) won triathlon's first Olympic gold medals.
Equipment
Bicycle
Used in the cycling section of the sport.
Bike rack
The device that holds bicycles in an upright position in the transition area.
Botton bracket
A hole in the base of a bicycle frame where the axle unit is attached.
Chainring
A large toothed ring within the chainset of a bicycle that drives the chain via the pedals and cranks.
Chainset
The chainwheels, chain and rear sprocket, as one, on a bicycle.
Crank
An arm, bolted to the crankshaft, which drives the chainwheels on a bicycle.
Crankshaft
The axle to which the cranks are attached on a bicycle.
Derailleur
The mechanism which moves the chain from one chainring or sprocket to another on a bicycle.
Goggles
Enclosed eyewear which prevent water from getting into a swimmer's eyes.
Nose clip
A clip which prevents water from getting into a swimmer's nose.
Pontoon
The floating apparatus from which triathletes dive to start the swimming leg.
Shoes
Sprocket
1. one of a series of teeth or projections on a wheel for transmitting or receiving motion to or from a corresponding tooth or part on a bicycle; also called a "cog".
2. a sprocket wheel; also called a "cogwheel".
Sprocket wheel
A wheel with sprockets; also called a "cogwheel".
Swim buoy
A marker used as a turning point in the swimming course.
Swimming cap
A lightweight, head-hugging and flexible cap which holds the hair in place and reduces resistance when swimming.
Wetsuit
A tight-fitting rubber suit worn to keep a swimmer warm and increase buoyancy.
Glossary
Brick: A combined bike/run workout involving repeat intervals of each discipline.
Buoys: Floats used to mark the swim course.
Clip-ons: An extension of the handlebars, enabling the cyclist to take on a more aerodynamic position while on the bike.
Draft zone: An imaginary area approximately three bicycle lengths long and two metres wide surrounding each competitor during the bike segment. This zone is used to distinguish drafting violations during events where drafting is not allowed.
Drafting: The technique of riding in a pack during the cycling event. For safety reasons, drafting is forbidden in Long Distance and age-group races.
Transition: The period in between stages of the triathlon, where competitors change equipment for the next discipline (swim to bike and bike to run).
Transition area: The area where transitions take place. Most events have one main transition area but occasionally there will be two separate areas for each transition (swim to bike and bike to run).
Transition time: The time it takes each competitor to complete their transition. This time is counted in their overall time for the race.
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