Triathlon
was invented in the early 1970s by the San Diego Track
club, as an alternative workout to the rigors of track
training. The clubıs first event consisted of a 10km
run, an 8km cycle and a 500metre swim.
Over the next decade, triathlon grew by leaps and
bounds and soon gained recognition throughout the
world. In 1989, the International Triathlon Union
(ITU) was founded in Avignon, France and the first
official world championships were held. The official
distance for triathlon was set at a 1500metre swim,
a 40km cycle and a 10km run taking from existing
events in each discipline already on the Olympic programme.
This standard distance is used for the ITU World Cup
series and will also be featured at the Olympic Games.
Since 1989, the sport has grown rapidly and now has
over a hundred affiliated national federations around
the world.
In 1994, at the IOC Congress in Paris, France, triathlon
was awarded full medal status on the Olympic programme
and will make itıs debut at the 2000 summer games
in Sydney, Australia. The womenıs event will take
place on the first day with the men competing on day
two. Triathlon has the honour of being one of the
first medals awarded at the Sydney Olympics.
