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Triathlon · Interesting Facts

Chapter 1: History & Origins

10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 16 October 2026 · markdown

How triathlon spread and organised itself: Reading and Nepean, the first Ironman races abroad, the ITU's founding in Avignon, Europe's first championships, the world champions of the 1990s, the half distance, the mixed relay, para triathlon and the sport's other world titles.

1.11Britain and Australia

The British association founded in Reading, the first national championships and Australia's oldest race.

Test 1Early days in two countriesTake a test

  1. Twenty-two people attended the meeting at a health club in the town.

    Source: British Triathlon, 'British Triathlon celebrates 40th anniversary' (britishtriathlon.org); World Triathlon, 'British Triathlon celebrates 25th anniversary' · recall

  2. Modern pentathlon already mixed swimming and running with other events.

    Source: British Triathlon, 'British Triathlon celebrates 40th anniversary' (britishtriathlon.org); World Triathlon, 'British Triathlon celebrates 25th anniversary' · recall

  3. The short course was held at Kirton Farm and was the first mass triathlon in Britain.

    Source: British Triathlon, 'British Triathlon celebrates 40th anniversary' (britishtriathlon.org); World Triathlon, 'British Triathlon celebrates 25th anniversary' · recall

  4. The course was a mile swim, a 40-mile ride and a 13-mile run.

    Source: British Triathlon, 'British Triathlon celebrates 40th anniversary' (britishtriathlon.org); World Triathlon, 'British Triathlon celebrates 25th anniversary' · recall

  5. Triathlon England, Triathlon Scotland and Welsh Triathlon are its members.

    Source: British Triathlon, 'British Triathlon celebrates 40th anniversary' (britishtriathlon.org); World Triathlon, 'British Triathlon celebrates 25th anniversary' · recall

  6. Nepean calls itself Australia's oldest triathlon because it has run ever since.

    Source: Nepean Triathlon, 'History' and 'The first Nepean Triathlon' (nepeantriathlon.com.au) · recall

  7. Earlier events existed, but Nepean is the one that kept going.

    Source: Nepean Triathlon, 'History' and 'The first Nepean Triathlon' (nepeantriathlon.com.au) · recall

  8. 1981, February 1982, December 1982 and June 1983.

    Source: Nepean Triathlon; British Triathlon · recall

  9. From one meeting to a national federation.

    Source: British Triathlon, 'British Triathlon celebrates 40th anniversary' (britishtriathlon.org); World Triathlon, 'British Triathlon celebrates 25th anniversary' · recall

  10. The race is held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre.

    Source: Nepean Triathlon, 'History' and 'The first Nepean Triathlon' (nepeantriathlon.com.au) · recall

1.12Ironman Goes Abroad

The first Ironman-distance races in Canada, New Zealand and Japan.

Test 1Ironman's first homes abroadTake a test

  1. It moved to Taupo later and is still held there.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Ironman New Zealand, one of the longest-running tris on the planet'; Te Ara, 'Triathlon and multisport: Ironman' · recall

  2. Eighty per cent of them came from outside New Zealand.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Ironman New Zealand, one of the longest-running tris on the planet'; Te Ara, 'Triathlon and multisport: Ironman' · recall

  3. Before then it used shorter legs so athletes would not spoil their Hawaii race.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Ironman New Zealand, one of the longest-running tris on the planet'; Te Ara, 'Triathlon and multisport: Ironman' · recall

  4. Lynn Van Dove noticed the town was quiet for most of the year.

    Source: Peach Classic Triathlon, 'From Ironman Canada to the Peach Classic'; CBC News (2024); Triathlon Magazine Canada · recall

  5. Lynn Van Dove, who had the idea, was his assistant race director.

    Source: Peach Classic Triathlon, 'From Ironman Canada to the Peach Classic'; CBC News (2024); Triathlon Magazine Canada · recall

  6. Penticton had hosted it from 1983 to 2012 and again from 2022.

    Source: Peach Classic Triathlon, 'From Ironman Canada to the Peach Classic'; CBC News (2024); Triathlon Magazine Canada · recall

  7. Japan became the third Ironman host nation, after the United States and New Zealand.

    Source: Japan Multisport, 'The history of IRONMAN Japan' (japanmultisport.com) · recall

  8. Summer 1983, March 1985 and later in 1985.

    Source: Peach Classic Triathlon, 'From Ironman Canada to the Peach Classic'; CBC News (2024); Triathlon Magazine Canada; Triathlete; Japan Multisport · recall

  9. 1983-2012, about a decade in Whistler, 2022-24 and from 2025.

    Source: Peach Classic Triathlon, 'From Ironman Canada to the Peach Classic'; CBC News (2024); Triathlon Magazine Canada · recall

  10. Fifty finishers earned automatic entry to the Ironman World Championship.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Ironman New Zealand, one of the longest-running tris on the planet'; Te Ara, 'Triathlon and multisport: Ironman' · recall

1.13Avignon 1989

The founding congress in a papal palace and the first official world championships on the Rhône.

Test 1The ITU's founding yearTake a test

  1. Leaders from 30 countries met there on 31 March and 1 April 1989 and approved a constitution.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Celebrating 20 years of ITU' (triathlon.org) · recall

  2. World Triathlon puts the attendance at 30 countries; the new constitution was approved on 1 April 1989.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Celebrating 20 years of ITU' (triathlon.org) · recall

  3. Samaranch backed a group led by Les McDonald of Canada and Sture Jonasson of Sweden.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Celebrating 20 years of ITU' (triathlon.org) · recall

  4. The plan failed at the union's congress in Montecatini, Italy, where the new president rejected the changes.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Celebrating 20 years of ITU' (triathlon.org) · recall

  5. The government and the French Olympic Committee supported the event in the Revolution's 200th year.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Celebrating 20 years of ITU' (triathlon.org) · recall

  6. The organisers had planned a bigger purse for the men and gave way.

    Source: World Triathlon, '20 Years of ITU - 1989 Avignon Race Report', parts 1 and 2 (triathlon.org) · recall

  7. The Australian ran 32:27 but finished fourth, 42 seconds behind Rick Wells.

    Source: World Triathlon, '20 Years of ITU - 1989 Avignon Race Report', parts 1 and 2 (triathlon.org) · recall

  8. 1984, 1988, April 1989 and August 1989.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Celebrating 20 years of ITU' (triathlon.org) · recall

  9. Baker and Ripple swapped the lead several times on the run before Baker pulled away with about a kilometre to go.

    Source: World Triathlon, '20 Years of ITU - 1989 Avignon Race Report', parts 1 and 2 (triathlon.org) · recall

  10. The swim ran longer than the advertised distance, and the finish lay near the 14th-century Palace of the Popes.

    Source: World Triathlon, '20 Years of ITU - 1989 Avignon Race Report', parts 1 and 2 (triathlon.org) · recall

1.14Tri Fed

How two American associations became one federation, and how it grew.

Test 1USA Triathlon's early yearsTake a test

  1. The U.S. Triathlon Association and the American Triathlon Association became one governing body.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'History of USA Triathlon' (usatriathlon.org; archive.teamusa.com) · recall

  2. The figure reached 5,589 annual members by the end of 1986.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'History of USA Triathlon' (usatriathlon.org; archive.teamusa.com) · recall

  3. The nickname was 'Tri Fed'.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'History of USA Triathlon' (usatriathlon.org; archive.teamusa.com) · recall

  4. The change came in February 1996, four years before triathlon's Olympic debut.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'History of USA Triathlon' (usatriathlon.org; archive.teamusa.com) · recall

  5. The rule lasted only one year; by 1989 membership stood at 24,729.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'History of USA Triathlon' (usatriathlon.org; archive.teamusa.com) · recall

  6. More than 1,200 athletes from 40 countries took part.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'History of USA Triathlon' (usatriathlon.org; archive.teamusa.com) · recall

  7. USA Triathlon lists it among its milestones, the year triathlon was voted onto the Olympic programme.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'History of USA Triathlon' (usatriathlon.org; archive.teamusa.com) · recall

  8. April 1982, August 1983, 1988 and February 1996.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'History of USA Triathlon' (usatriathlon.org; archive.teamusa.com) · recall

  9. 1982, 1987, 1989 and 2004: the 1987 peak came from a one-year rule and fell back.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'History of USA Triathlon' (usatriathlon.org; archive.teamusa.com) · recall

  10. James Gayton and John Disterdick founded it on 16 February 1982; the American Triathlon Association followed on 15 March.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'History of USA Triathlon' (usatriathlon.org; archive.teamusa.com) · recall

1.15Immenstadt 1985

Europe's first championships in the Allgäu and the men and women who shaped them.

Test 1Europe's first championshipsTake a test

  1. The newly formed European union gave the race championship status that year.

    Source: World Triathlon, '1985 - Immenstadt, where it all began' (triathlon.org, 2020) · recall

  2. She finished in 2:51:18, inside the top 40 overall; the first European woman home was Germany's Alexandra Kremer.

    Source: World Triathlon, '1985 - Immenstadt, where it all began' (triathlon.org, 2020) · recall

  3. Records survive for only about 120 of them.

    Source: World Triathlon, '1985 - Immenstadt, where it all began' (triathlon.org, 2020) · recall

  4. The Immenstadt sports-shop owner had been inspired by watching Hawaii on television.

    Source: World Triathlon, '1985 - Immenstadt, where it all began' (triathlon.org, 2020) · recall

  5. It was the Bosbaan Triathlon; Barel was fourth at Kona two years later.

    Source: World Triathlon, '1985 - Immenstadt, where it all began' (triathlon.org, 2020) · recall

  6. He also won the long-distance world title in Nice in 1994.

    Source: World Triathlon, '1985 - Immenstadt, where it all began' (triathlon.org, 2020) · recall

  7. She later won six European titles.

    Source: World Triathlon, '1985 - Immenstadt, where it all began' (triathlon.org, 2020) · recall

  8. One title a year from 1985 to 1988.

    Source: World Triathlon, '1985 - Immenstadt, where it all began' (triathlon.org, 2020) · recall

  9. France's Yves Cordier led out of the swim, but Barel caught him on the bike.

    Source: World Triathlon, '1985 - Immenstadt, where it all began' (triathlon.org, 2020) · recall

  10. The distances were 1,300 m, 58 km and 12 km, with tough mountain climbs.

    Source: World Triathlon, '1985 - Immenstadt, where it all began' (triathlon.org, 2020) · recall

1.16The First World Champions

World titles from Orlando in 1990 to Montreal in 1999.

Test 1World champions of the 1990sTake a test

  1. She finished ahead of Terri Smith and Michellie Jones.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Championships winners' (triathlon.org) · recall

  2. She won in Muskoka in 1992 and in Manchester in 1993, and collected seven world medals in all.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Championships winners' (triathlon.org) · recall

  3. His run usually decided his races; he won again in 1995, 1996 and 1998.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Championships winners' (triathlon.org) · recall

  4. He went on to defend the title he had won in Manchester, with Brad Beven second.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Championships winners' (triathlon.org) · recall

  5. She had finished second at the world championships the year before.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Championships winners' (triathlon.org) · recall

  6. Gaag had beaten Lessing in a sprint.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Championships winners' (triathlon.org) · recall

  7. Loretta Harrop won the title that had long been predicted for her.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Championships winners' (triathlon.org) · recall

  8. One a year from 1990 to 1994.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Championships winners' (triathlon.org) · recall

  9. Jones would win the next two titles.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Championships winners' (triathlon.org) · recall

  10. World Triathlon remembers him jumping across the line and clicking his heels together.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'World Championships winners' (triathlon.org) · recall

1.17The Half Distance

How the 70.3 began in England and grew into a travelling world championship.

Test 1The 70.3 storyTake a test

  1. He wanted a race more manageable than the full 140.6 miles.

    Source: Triathlete, 'A Brief History of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships' (triathlete.com) · recall

  2. Earlier British races at Llanberis and Sherborne had been called 'Half Ironman'.

    Source: Tri247, 'IRONMAN 70.3 Exmoor, Wimbleball - the final edition' (tri247.com) · recall

  3. Catriona Morrison won the women's race; the 11th and final Wimbleball edition was held in 2017.

    Source: Tri247, 'IRONMAN 70.3 Exmoor, Wimbleball - the final edition' (tri247.com) · recall

  4. Women raced on the Saturday in Chattanooga and men on the Sunday.

    Source: Triathlete, 'A Brief History of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships' (triathlete.com) · recall

  5. He had also won the first 70.3 world title in 2006.

    Source: Triathlete, 'A Brief History of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships' (triathlete.com) · recall

  6. The race moved to Henderson and Lake Las Vegas with an earlier September date and a hillier course.

    Source: Triathlete, 'A Brief History of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships' (triathlete.com) · recall

  7. Kienle followed with two titles in 2012 and 2013.

    Source: Triathlete, 'A Brief History of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships' (triathlete.com) · recall

  8. From 2014 the race rotated to a new venue each year.

    Source: Triathlete, 'A Brief History of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships' (triathlete.com) · recall

  9. One title each, 2006 to 2009.

    Source: Triathlete, 'A Brief History of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships' (triathlete.com) · recall

  10. The swim in the reservoir was followed by a hilly ride over Exmoor.

    Source: Tri247, 'IRONMAN 70.3 Exmoor, Wimbleball - the final edition' (tri247.com) · recall

1.18The Mixed Relay Is Born

Two women and two men, a tag and a clock that never stops: the relay from Des Moines to the Olympics.

Test 1The first mixed relaysTake a test

  1. The ITU created the format to push triathlon towards a new Olympic event.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Triathlon Mixed Relay' (triathlon.org) · recall

  2. Each team had two women and two men.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Mixed Relay Dazzles at the 2009 Hy-Vee Triathlon' (triathlete.com) · recall

  3. She was 22 and rode nearly 30 seconds quicker than any other woman.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Mixed Relay Dazzles at the 2009 Hy-Vee Triathlon' (triathlete.com) · recall

  4. Canada were third and the United States fourth.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Mixed Relay Dazzles at the 2009 Hy-Vee Triathlon' (triathlete.com) · recall

  5. World Triathlon calls it a long-standing host of the event.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Triathlon Mixed Relay' (triathlon.org) · recall

  6. Five years later Germany won the Olympic mixed relay in Paris.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Mixed Relay Dazzles at the 2009 Hy-Vee Triathlon' (triathlete.com) · recall

  7. Each athlete swims, rides and runs a super-sprint before tagging a teammate, and the clock never stops.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Triathlon Mixed Relay' (triathlon.org) · recall

  8. 2009, 2013, 2018 and 2021.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Triathlon Mixed Relay' (triathlon.org) · recall

  9. Ryf's ride gave the Swiss the lead into the final exchange.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Mixed Relay Dazzles at the 2009 Hy-Vee Triathlon' (triathlete.com) · recall

  10. The 2009 legs were 250 m, 6.6 km and 1.6 km; the distances have changed slightly since.

    Source: Triathlete, 'Recalled: Mixed Relay Dazzles at the 2009 Hy-Vee Triathlon' (triathlete.com) · recall

1.19Para Triathlon's Road

From annual world championships to eleven Paralympic medal events.

Test 1Para triathlon's growthTake a test

  1. The International Paralympic Committee notes the sport had been developed for years before it reached the Games.

    Source: International Paralympic Committee, 'What's the official governing body for para-triathlon?' (paralympic.org) · recall

  2. The decision followed an ITU campaign for a place on the Paralympic programme.

    Source: International Paralympic Committee, 'What's the official governing body for para-triathlon?' (paralympic.org) · recall

  3. The campaign ran before the Paralympic Committee's decision in 2010.

    Source: International Paralympic Committee, 'What's the official governing body for para-triathlon?' (paralympic.org) · recall

  4. That was three more than in Tokyo, with 33 medals in all.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history' (triathlon.org) · recall

  5. Gretsch finished in 1:06:25 and Parker in 1:06:26; Parker won the title in Paris three years later.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history' (triathlon.org) · recall

  6. He won Paris in 58:01, almost three minutes clear.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history' (triathlon.org) · recall

  7. She races in the B1 class, with a guide.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history' (triathlon.org) · recall

  8. 1995, 2010, 2016 and 2024.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history' (triathlon.org) · recall

  9. Norman had won the PT4 title in Rio and silver in Tokyo.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history' (triathlon.org) · recall

  10. Kelly and Jones finished in 1:12:18; Britain's Alison Peasgood was second.

    Source: World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history' (triathlon.org) · recall

1.20The Other World Titles

Duathlon, aquathlon, winter and cross triathlon: where their world championships began.

Test 1Multisport firstsTake a test

  1. The Californian town lies in the Palm Springs area; the race has been held every year since.

    Source: World Triathlon, multisport pages 'Duathlon', 'Aquathlon', 'Winter Triathlon' and 'Cross Triathlon' (triathlon.org) · recall

  2. World Triathlon calls him an American pioneer of the sport.

    Source: World Triathlon, multisport pages 'Duathlon', 'Aquathlon', 'Winter Triathlon' and 'Cross Triathlon' (triathlon.org) · recall

  3. The event has been held every year since.

    Source: World Triathlon, multisport pages 'Duathlon', 'Aquathlon', 'Winter Triathlon' and 'Cross Triathlon' (triathlon.org) · recall

  4. Its championship today is a 2.5 km run, a 1 km swim and another 2.5 km run.

    Source: World Triathlon, multisport pages 'Duathlon', 'Aquathlon', 'Winter Triathlon' and 'Cross Triathlon' (triathlon.org) · recall

  5. The race later became XTERRA.

    Source: World Triathlon, multisport pages 'Duathlon', 'Aquathlon', 'Winter Triathlon' and 'Cross Triathlon' (triathlon.org) · recall

  6. The first of these festivals was held in Penticton, Canada.

    Source: World Triathlon, multisport pages 'Duathlon', 'Aquathlon', 'Winter Triathlon' and 'Cross Triathlon' (triathlon.org) · recall

  7. World Triathlon announced it on its duathlon page.

    Source: World Triathlon, multisport pages 'Duathlon', 'Aquathlon', 'Winter Triathlon' and 'Cross Triathlon' (triathlon.org) · recall

  8. 1990, 1997, 1998 and 2011.

    Source: World Triathlon, multisport pages 'Duathlon', 'Aquathlon', 'Winter Triathlon' and 'Cross Triathlon' (triathlon.org) · recall

  9. 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2024.

    Source: World Triathlon, multisport pages 'Duathlon', 'Aquathlon', 'Winter Triathlon' and 'Cross Triathlon' (triathlon.org) · recall

  10. Athletes ran through a village, rode up to a ski resort and finished on skis; world championships followed from 1997.

    Source: World Triathlon, multisport pages 'Duathlon', 'Aquathlon', 'Winter Triathlon' and 'Cross Triathlon' (triathlon.org) · recall

Sources

Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: World Triathlon, USA Triathlon, British Triathlon, the International Paralympic Committee, the Nepean Triathlon, Triathlete, Tri247, Te Ara, CBC, Triathlon Magazine Canada, Japan Multisport.

  • USA Triathlon, 'History of USA Triathlon' (usatriathlon.org; archive.teamusa.com)10
  • World Triathlon, '1985 - Immenstadt, where it all began' (triathlon.org, 2020)10
  • World Triathlon, 'World Championships winners' (triathlon.org)10
  • World Triathlon, multisport pages 'Duathlon', 'Aquathlon', 'Winter Triathlon' and 'Cross Triathlon' (triathlon.org)10
  • Triathlete, 'A Brief History of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships' (triathlete.com)7
  • World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history' (triathlon.org)7
  • British Triathlon, 'British Triathlon celebrates 40th anniversary' (britishtriathlon.org); World Triathlon, 'British Triathlon celebrates 25th anniversary'6
  • World Triathlon, 'Celebrating 20 years of ITU' (triathlon.org)6
  • Triathlete, 'Recalled: Mixed Relay Dazzles at the 2009 Hy-Vee Triathlon' (triathlete.com)6
  • Triathlete, 'Recalled: Ironman New Zealand, one of the longest-running tris on the planet'; Te Ara, 'Triathlon and multisport: Ironman'4
  • Peach Classic Triathlon, 'From Ironman Canada to the Peach Classic'; CBC News (2024); Triathlon Magazine Canada4
  • World Triathlon, '20 Years of ITU - 1989 Avignon Race Report', parts 1 and 2 (triathlon.org)4
  • World Triathlon, 'Triathlon Mixed Relay' (triathlon.org)4
  • Nepean Triathlon, 'History' and 'The first Nepean Triathlon' (nepeantriathlon.com.au)3
  • Tri247, 'IRONMAN 70.3 Exmoor, Wimbleball - the final edition' (tri247.com)3
  • International Paralympic Committee, 'What's the official governing body for para-triathlon?' (paralympic.org)3
  • Nepean Triathlon; British Triathlon1
  • Japan Multisport, 'The history of IRONMAN Japan' (japanmultisport.com)1
  • Peach Classic Triathlon, 'From Ironman Canada to the Peach Classic'; CBC News (2024); Triathlon Magazine Canada; Triathlete; Japan Multisport1