Paris Olympics 2024: Triathlon —History, rules and defending champions

Triathlon is a unique sport that comprises of three different sporting disciplines — Swimming, cycling and running. The history of Triathlon is pretty recent. The sport was only invented in the 1970s by the San Diego Track Club in what was seen as an alternative for the traditional track training.

The first triathlon event by the San Diego Track Club was held in 1974. It consisted of an 8.5km run, 8 kms of cycling and a swimming race of just under 550m. The sport’s popularity rose in the 1980s. The International Triathlon Union was formed in 1989 in Avignon in France, which would also become the venue for the first World Championships the same year.

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What is triathlon’s history at the Olympics?

Triathlon was first added into the Olympic programme for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and has been a permanent part of the Games ever since. The World Triathlon Cup series that began in 1991 was a stepping stone to the event’s inclusion in the Olympics. Eleven races were held across eight different countries and as a result, the sport became even more accessible to more countries, leading to its inclusion for the 2000 Olympics.

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The 2020 Tokyo Olympics witnessed a new format of triathlon, the mixed team relay format. In this, two males and two females compete in a triathlon XS circuit that consists of 300m swim, 8 km cycling and a 2 km run, before passing onto their respective teammates.

What are the rules?

The rules for triathlon are simple. The traditional triathlon format for the Olympics have a 1500m swimming, 40km cycling and 10km walking. It’s also important to mention that triathlon does not follow a heats format, and it’s just one straightforward race where the first athlete to cross the finish line becomes the winner.

However, to participate in three sporting disciplines in one go is no mean feat, and it requires both mental and physical strength, and versatility.

Who are the reigning champions?

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Men’s individual: Kristian Blummenfelt (Norway)

Women’s individual: Flora Duffy (Bermuda)

Mixed team relay: Jess Learmonth, Jonny Brownlee, Georgia Taylor-Brown and Alex Yee (Great Britain)

When and where will triathlon take place at the Paris Olympics?

The triathlon event will take place at Pont Alexandre III. The men’s individual will take place on 30 July, the women’s individual on 31 July and the mixed team relay event on 5 August.