Triathlon

A triathlon is a very tough race. It has three different sports in a row. First, athletes swim in a lake, ocean, or pool. Then they get on a bike and ride. Last, they run to the finish line. The word triathlon means three contests.

How It Works

Triathletes do all three parts without a real break. The area where they change from swim to bike is called the transition zone. They take off their swim cap, put on their helmet, and jump on their bike. When biking is done, they switch to running shoes. The fastest total time wins.

Different Sizes

Triathlons come in many lengths. A short race for kids might be very quick. A standard Olympic triathlon has a 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike, and 6 mile run. The biggest one is the Ironman, which has a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run. That is a whole day of racing.

Fun Facts

• The first modern triathlon was in California in 1974.
• Triathlon became an Olympic sport in the 2000 Sydney Games.
• Many cities hold fun triathlons just for children.

Did You Know?

Some Ironman racers finish all three parts in less than 8 hours, but most take 12 or more hours to finish.