World Triathlon, previously known as the International Triathlon Union (ITU), is the international governing body for triathlon and related multi-sport disciplines such as duathlon, aquathlon, and winter triathlon. It was founded on 1 April 1989, during the first ITU Congress held in Avignon, France. The organisation was established to standardise rules for the sport and oversee its global development. Triathlon became an official Olympic sport in 2000 at the Sydney Games, following its inclusion by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1994.
The headquarters of World Triathlon are based in Lausanne, Switzerland, home to many international sporting bodies. The current President is Marisol Casado, who was elected in 2008, becoming the second president of the organisation after Canadian Les McDonald, the founding president. The CEO is Antonio Arimany.
World Triathlon oversees a wide range of international competitions, including the World Triathlon Championship Series, the World Triathlon Cup, and several World Championships for long-distance, sprint, mixed relay, and para-triathlon events. The sport is organised across four main distances: Sprint, Olympic, Double Olympic, and Triple Olympic. The Olympic triathlon features a 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike ride, and 10 km run. In 2020, World Triathlon officially adopted its current name to better reflect its role in the global development of the sport.
The organisation is structured into five continental regions—Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania—through which 172 national federations are affiliated. World Triathlon also maintains a ranking system that tracks athletes in various disciplines based on points earned in official competitions. Rankings are calculated using a rolling calendar that takes results from the previous two years into account.
World Triathlon places a strong emphasis on developing the sport globally, especially in emerging regions. This includes providing grants to national federations, offering scholarships for talented athletes, and implementing coaching certifications. The organisation also promotes gender equality, demonstrated by the inclusion of the mixed team relay in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
World Triathlon governs multiple disciplines within the sport, including triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon, and winter triathlon. Each of these disciplines involves a combination of different athletic components, and all are regulated by World Triathlon's rules and standards.
Triathlon is the most well-known discipline, consisting of three stages: swimming, cycling, and running. The Olympic distance, used in major international competitions, includes a 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike ride, and a 10 km run. Triathlon events can also vary in length, with sprint, long-distance, and mixed relay formats.
Duathlon combines running and cycling. It usually starts with a run, followed by a cycling leg, and ends with another running stage. Distances can vary, but the format typically follows a "run-bike-run" sequence. Duathlon is often used as an alternative in regions where swimming events are less accessible.
Aquathlon involves two stages: running and swimming. It starts with a run, followed by a swimming leg, and then another run. The distance of each leg can change depending on the event, but the sequence remains consistent across all levels of competition.
Winter Triathlon is a variation that includes running, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing. This event is held in winter conditions, and the terrain and weather add extra challenges to the competition. The event format remains similar to the traditional triathlon, with each stage completed back-to-back.
World Triathlon ensures that all these disciplines are standardised and properly regulated at both the national and international levels. Competitions are held for elite athletes as well as age-group participants, providing opportunities for athletes of all skill levels to compete globally.
World Triathlon membership is composed of National Federations and Continental Confederations, which are responsible for organising and promoting triathlon and its related disciplines within their regions.
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