Triathlon
Background
Triathlon is a continuous endurance activity comprised of three of the world’s more popular participation sports: swimming, cycling, and running.
Participants must first swim a set distance in a lake, ocean, or pool, then bike a set distance and finish with a run. The time between each activity, called the “transition,” is also timed as part of the race, creating a continuous contest.
Introduced in the early 1970s in California, Triathlon traces its roots to the Hawaiian Ironman™ Triathlon held each year in Kona, Hawaii. The Ironman is a rigorous endurance test consisting of a 4 km swim, 180 km bike, and a marathon run (42.2 km).
Triathlon has changed a great deal since the 1970s. Today, there are over six million athletes participating worldwide, an international federation, almost 100 national federations, and events held over a wide range of distances, from short, sprint distance events through to ultra-endurance events.
As an official Olympic Games event, triathlon is contested over a 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike, and 10 km run. Triathlon is also part of the program for the Commonwealth, Pan-American, and Goodwill Games. Most recently, the sport of Triathlon was inaugurated into the Canada Games, and in 2011, will be introduced into the Western Canada Games. The International Triathlon Union (ITU) holds an annual Triathlon World Championship and Long Distance Triathlon World Championship. In 2008, the Triathlon World Championship was held in held in Vancouver, where over 8,000 athletes from around the globe contested World Championship titles.
In Canada, triathlons covering all distances are staged across the nation - from grassroots charity events to international caliber races. It is estimated that nearly 75,000 Canadians compete in a triathlon each year. The annual Ironman™ Canada triathlon, held in Penticton, BC, attracts over 3,000 athletes each year and is one of the most renowned long-distance races in the world. Triathlon Canada sanctions an annual Canadian Triathlon Championship that is the premier triathlon in Canada.
The triathlon family of events has something to offer to everyone. Athletes, referred to as triathletes, can be people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Triathlon has categories for athletes aged five to beyond 90, for Paratriathlon (formerly known as Athletes with a Disability), and for recreational and elite competitors.
Philosophy
Triathlon is an inclusionary sport, emphasizing respect for all people. It does not matter if you are first, last, or finish in the middle of the pack. In multisport events, everyone who makes the effort to reach the finish line is a winner. People from different countries, cultures, and regions compete together and learn to honour all people, worldwide.
It's the people in triathlon that make the sport unique and fun. Participants enjoy the challenge of testing their skills, endurance, and mental toughness. In fact, it is a perfect family sport.
Anyone can participate in a multisport event. While there are some guidelines and restrictions to equipment for Elite racers, Age Group athletes can compete with a wide range of equipment - as long as it is safe. For example, many children, youth, and novice adults use mountain bikes or commuting bikes for the cycle component.
In Elite competition, athletes are selected by national triathlon federations to represent their country at elite competitions, such as World Championships, World Cups, Continental Championships and ITU World Ranking Points Events.
Elite competition is characterized by "draft legal" cycling. This means competitors may ride directly behind or beside other competitors during the cycle component of the event, saving energy and increasing their speeds.
Competition at the Games
At the BC Summer Games, age group competition enables competitors to compete at their individual level and against people of the same age. Participants primarily compete for the love of the sport and also to challenge themselves while enjoying the thrill of participation and competition.
Age group competition is "non-drafting," meaning that competitors must maintain a specified distance from other participants during the cycle component unless they are overtaking.
Athlete Development
The KIDS OF STEEL triathlons are designed to offer kids and young adults the opportunity to experience the sport of triathlon in a positive environment. The distances are much shorter than those in adult triathlons, and change as participants mature. Most kids are fit enough to finish a KOS triathlon successfully and have fun at the same time.
KIDS OF STEEL races offer families a chance to travel within their province. The kids develop some great friendships and have a lot of fun in the process. The sport of triathlon offers a healthy lifestyle for families, lots of fresh air and physical activity. Many KOS races are held in conjunction with an adult race and so the entire family can be involved.
Triathlon BC hosts many KIDS OF STEEL events, catering to youth just getting into the sport. For those more advanced and looking to compete at a progressively higher level, the Provincial Junior Championships caters to top level racers looking to climb to the National and International level. The BC Summer Games looks to develop athletes, by introducing young athletes to provincial level racing, preparing the athletes for the rigors of Junior Elite competition.
For more info on Triathlon, contact Triathlon BC at www.tribc.org or (604) 736-3176.