Olympic triathlons

The standard distance triathlon actually began before it was introduced to the Olympics, when the ITU started a world championship in 1989. It was after being included in the Sydney Olympics in 2000 that this distance gained its more common name of the Olympic triathlon.

Including a 1.5K swim, 40K bike ride and 10K run, the Olympic triathlon is so popular because it is both accessible to new triathletes and a serious event that takes years to master. The Brownlee brothers are to thank for popularising the event in the UK, after they stormed to victory in the 2012 London Olympics. Ever since, the sport has a dedicated fan base and a huge range of events available around the country.

Although the distances remain consistent for Olympic triathlons across the UK, the terrain and ascent are very much changeable, which means there is a great variety of events to choose from. The London Triathlon, for example, takes its entrants into the River Thames, past the city's landmarks on closed roads and into the ExCel for its run. By contrast, the Ullswater Triathlon dives into the eponymous lake, cycles around the Lake District and runs along the lake shore.

People new to triathlons can expect to finish an Olympic distance race in between three and four hours, though seasoned competitors would look to take an hour off that time. If you are new to triathlon, we would recommend trying a novice, super sprint or sprint distance event first, to get a feel for the transitions and how they affect your legs!

FAQs

What is Olympic triathlon distance?

Olympic triathlon races cover a 1.5K swim, 40K bike ride and 10K run.

What is a good Olympic triathlon time?

An average time for this distance is around three hours, assuming that it takes about 30 minutes to complete the swim, one hour 30 minutes for the bike ride and about an hour for the run.