Triathlon - London Olympics 2012
Hyde Park will welcome the world’s best triathletes for one of the most exciting and high-profile events at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Key facts
Venue: Hyde Park
Dates: Saturday 4 and Tuesday 7 August
Medal events: 2
Athletes: 110 (55 men, 55 women)
The precise origins of Triathlon are unknown: some say that the sport began in France between the wars, others that it really developed in the United States during the late 1970s. Whatever the true history, Triathlon is now one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and the London 2012 competition in Hyde Park promises to draw enormous and enthusiastic crowds.
Did you know?
The first Olympic Triathlon champions were Brigitte McMahon (Switzerland) and Simon Whitfield (Canada).
The world’s leading competitors take less than one hour 50 minutes to complete an Olympic-distance triathlon.
Transitions are crucial in determining the final results, as athletes can gain or lose valuable time on their rivals when they are taking off their wetsuit and putting on their shoes.
The basics
Triathlon races combine swimming, cycling and running, in that order. Events are conducted over a variety of distances: for the Olympic Games, the men’s and women’s Triathlons will consist of a 1,500m swim, a 40km bike ride and a 10km run. There are no heats: both the men’s and women’s events consist of a single race.
Olympic Triathlon, past and present
More than half a million spectators lined the Sydney streets to watch the first ever Olympic Triathlon at the 2000 Games. The six Triathlon events held since the sport’s Olympic debut have been won by athletes from six different countries: Canada and Switzerland in 2000; New Zealand and Austria in 2004; and Germany and Australia in 2008.
At London 2012, the Triathlon will begin and end in Hyde Park. The events will begin with a 1,500m swim in the Serpentine; continue with a seven-lap, 40km bike ride around a course that takes in Buckingham Palace and the Wellington Arch; and end with a four-lap, 10km run around the Serpentine to the finish.
Jargon buster
Transition: The changeovers between the three elements of the race.
Transition time: The time it takes each competitor to complete their transition. These times are counted in their overall time for the race.
Transition area: A location within which each athlete is allocated an area for the storage of clothing and equipment.
Penalty box: An area on the bike course or the run course set aside for the implementation of a time penalty for an infringement of the rules.
Mount line: A line at the exit from the transition area on to the bike course after which athletes must mount their bicycles and proceed. There is also a dismount course at the end of the bike course.
Get involved
Triathlon is a sport for people of all ages and backgrounds, and with races held over a wide range of distances, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. The British Triathlon Federation and its affiliated associations – Triathlon England, Triathlon Scotland and Welsh Triathlon – oversee a network of clubs, coaches, volunteers and races across Britain. If you are in Northern Ireland, contact theUlster branch of Triathlon Ireland
Or, for more on international competition, check the website of the International Triathlon Union.
|
