British
Triathlon Association
Triathlon“Promoting Participation,
Delivering Development and Enabling Excellence” So what is triathlon? Triathlon
is an exciting multi-discipline sport. It involves a continuous race over various
distances in the three disciplines of swimming, cycling and running. A triathlon
is made up of a swim, followed by a cycle ride, followed by a run. Competitors
race against the clock, which starts as they enter the swim, and stops as they
cross the finish line after the run. For this reason, triathlon is often reported
as having a 'fourth discipline' known as the transition. The transitions are where
competitors change from swimming to cycling, and from cycling to running. The
transition areas (where these changes take place) are an important and unique
part of triathlon, where time can be gained or lost. Triathlon
history dates back at around 1974 in Southern California when a group of friends
began to train together. The group contained mostly runners, a few swimmers and
the odd cyclist or two. It wasn't long before the group was organizing informal
fun runs and races, followed by events containing swimming and running, and a
natural progression led them to include cycling. Triathlon thus evolved from this
healthy way of life in Southern California.
Although its history is relatively
short, triathlon has already achieved
Olympic status, debuting at the Sydney
2000 Games.Today some 300 triathlons are held annually in Great Britain, in addition
to duathlons, (combining cycling and running) and aquathlons (combining swimming
and running). It has been estimated that there are 15,000 members of 200 Triathlon
Clubs around the country.
Without doubt Great Britain has, and currently
does hold a leading position in World Triathlon. The Great Britain team includes
current World and European Champions and medallists. Triathlon
is a modern 'life style' sport, which you can start at almost any age. The basic
requirements are that you are able to swim, ride a bike and run. Triathlon events
give you the opportunity to race side by side with athletes of all abilities,
with the benefit of seeing results, which show your placings against competitors
of your own age and sex.
British
Triathlon: Local clubs and events.
Coaching, education and youth/child development:
contact your regional development officers. Claire Love - Eastern/East Midlands
east.rdo@britishtriathlon.co.uk Emma Forward - London/South-East
london-se.rdo@britishtriathlon.co.uk Natalie
Woodford - West Midlands/North West
west.rdo@britishtriathlon.co.uk Janet
Whiting - Southern/South West
south.rdo@britishtriathlon.co.uk Damien
Smith - Northern/Yorkshire & Humberside
north.rdo@britishtriathlon.co.uk Rich
Jones - Wales
richbodymatters@aol.com
For further information please
visit the BTA website at
British
Triathlon.
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