First triathlon: start with a short distance or go straight to Ironman? Triathlon: history, distances and types Running swimming cycling triathlon.
Distances in triathlon are conventionally divided into two types: “short” drafting distances (Olympic and shorter); and long distances, where leading on the bike leg is prohibited. The most widespread are the Olympic and sprint distances. Iron distance and ITU long distance are also popular.
However, there are other options - so we will present them as well.
Triathlon - distances
Name (abbreviation) | Swimming | Bicycle race | Promoter | Drafting? | Competitions |
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Olympic (OD) | Olympics, World and European Championships |
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Sprint (SD) | World and European Junior Championships |
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Super sprint | ||||||
"Youthful" | as a leg of the 3x ITU relay |
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"People's" | ||||||
Long ITU (3xOD) | ITU World Long Course Championships |
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2x Olympic (2xOD) | In ITU rules since 2006 |
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Iron | Ironman, as well as independent starts |
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Half-iron | Ironman 70.4, as well as independent starts |
The Olympic distance, representing triathlon in the Olympic program, is the main format for high-level international starts, world and continental Championships. The sprint distance is used for junior international starts.
It is these two distances that are most often used for local amateur competitions. The super sprint distance is usually used only in club starts. Competitions for the “folk” distance are usually held “in addition” to the main starts in order to popularize the event. Teenage competitions are often held for this distance. *
Triathlon relay, XC triathlon, aquathlon, duathlon.
Triathlon relay is a competition between teams of three, each of which sequentially overcomes the swimming, cycling and running segments. The competition is held from a single start, the distance for one participant is 0.3-8-2. **
Cross Country Triathlon- a combination of swimming, cross-country cycling, and cross-country running. The distance of the most famous xc triathlon series - Xterra - is proportional to the Olympic one and is usually 1.5 km swimming, 30 km cross-country cycling and 11 km cross-country running. But depending on local conditions, the lengths of the segments can vary noticeably.
Under the ITU umbrella there are aquathlon and duathlon.
Duathlon- a combination of running, cycling and running again. World Championships have been held since 1990.
Aquathlon- a combination of running, swimming and running again. World Championships - since 1998
Winter triathlon
Winter triathlon is a combination of running, cross-country cycling and cross-country skiing. This innovative discipline, cultivated by the ITU, was planned to be presented at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010. World Championships have been held since 1997.
If in triathlon, cross-country triathlon, duathlon and aquathlon the same athletes usually compete (and take prizes), then winter triathlon stands apart.
Ultratriathlon.
There are also longer distances in triathlon than iron - the so-called. ultratriathlons. Usually these are double or triple iron distances; once every few years, starts are held at 10 and 20 times iron distances. These are all multi-day starts that involve breaks for sleep.
Ultratriathlons are not recognized by the ITU, and other promotional organizations (WTC and Xterra) also distance themselves from such events. Ultratriathlons are not mass events. The number of participants in such starts is small: from half a dozen to two dozen people. In total, there are no more than 20-30 people all over the world who adhere to such distances. ***
Notes
* -- Lance Armstrong, then still a schoolboy, took part in one of these youth competitions - and won it. He continued his efforts in triathlon, becoming known as the youngest professional triathlete. Armstrong twice won the US Junior Triathlon Championship (sprint distance). And only then did he switch from the then non-Olympic triathlon to cycling.
** -- Previously, the relay race in triathlon had a different format: teams consisted of 5 people, team members covered the distance together, the team’s finish was determined by the finish of the third participant - i.e. the rest might not finish. The competition was held with a time trial for a distance of 1.5-40-10
*** -- For comparison, more than 1,500 people start at a typical WTC Ironman. The largest iron triathlon in Europe - Quelle Challenge Roth - gathered more than 2,300 participants in 2006. Moreover, all these starts usually have a limit on the number of participants, which is chosen long before the start date. As for short distances, here the number of participants is even more significant. The largest triathlon in the world is Chicago, where more than 8,000 participants start. However, short triathlons are strong not in the number of participants at a time, but in the total number of starts. The USAT (US Triathlon Federation) calendar contains over 1800 officially registered starts.
Triathlon, or triathlon, is a sport that includes three speed events: cycling, swimming and cross-country athletics. This discipline is included in the program of the Summer Olympic Games.
The first competition, similar to the modern triathlon, took place in France in 1920. Translated from French, the name meant “Race of the Resourceful.” Then the participants ran three kilometers, cycled twelve kilometers and swam across the Marnay Canal. All parts of the distance were covered without interruption.
At the end of the thirties of the 20th century, triathlon competitions were practically not held. It wasn't until 1974 that the first triathlon club was created in the United States. In the same year, the first short triathlon competition was held, in which forty-six people took part.
The first classic triathlon competitions took place in 1977 in Hawaii. In Europe, competitions of this type began to be held in 1981. In 1985, triathlon came to Russia, and then various championships began to be organized. Every year triathlon gained momentum and in 1989 the first World Championship was held, at the same time the International Triathlon Union appeared in Avignon. The purpose of creating such an organization was to include this sport in the Olympic program. In 2000, this goal was achieved.
Nowadays, triathlon competitions are not uncommon. In addition, there is more than one type of such sport. The traditional Olympic (international) triathlon includes a one and a half kilometer swim, a forty kilometer cycling race and a ten kilometer cross-country race. This program was invented by Jim Curl, a racing director in the eighties of the 20th century. The short triathlon consists of a 750-metre swim, a 20-metre bike ride and a five-kilometre run. Discipline "Half-Iron Man": cycling - 90 km, running - 21 km, swimming - 1.9 km, "Iron Man" doubles all these indicators. In Russia, the “People's Triathlon” is very popular, which is intended for beginner athletes and just amateurs. It consists of a 200-meter swim, a 10-kilometer bike race and a 2.5-kilometer run. All stages of the triathlon take place without pause.
Any triathlon competition begins with swimming. As a rule, a mass start is made from a pontoon or from the water. At low water temperatures, athletes are allowed to wear a wetsuit no thicker than 5 millimeters. Most often, the swim route has a triangular shape, which is limited by buoys and cables. If the distance is deliberately shortened, athletes receive penalty points or are disqualified. The swimming style is not specified in the rules. After the swim, participants move to the transit area, change clothes, get behind the wheel of their bicycles, and the cycling race begins. Technical assistance is prohibited along the course, however, food stations are located in some places. The next test is running. The main condition is to move on your feet. This rule looks very stupid, but it is important because by the end of the competition the athletes reach the finish line almost at a crawl.
Triathlon rules require order. Athletes must not interfere with each other while changing clothes or preparing their bicycles. Bicycle racing requires a helmet, which must be put on before the race and removed after the bike is in the designated place. During the cycling stage, the participant's number must be located on the back, while running - on the chest. For each distance there is a time limit that must be met. In order to maintain order on the highway, a system of penalties has been developed. If an athlete interferes with swimming, he will be detained for 30 seconds after exiting the water. If the rules are violated during a cycling or running race, the participant is presented with a yellow card, which obliges him to stop and wait for permission to continue the race. If a repeated violation or dangerous act is committed, the athlete is given a red card and disqualified. Receiving two yellow cards at one stage is equivalent to one red card and the participant will be disqualified.
To summarize, I would like to note that triathlon is one of the most popular cyclic disciplines. Its fame and popularity is comparable to marathon running, cross-country skiing and biathlon.
The topic of triathlon turned out to be unexpectedly attractive to visitors to our forum. Moreover, the topic is not so much triathlon as a sport, but its cult variety - Ironman or “iron man”, which in quantitative terms means a distance consisting of: swimming 3.8 km + cycling 180 km + running marathon 42.195 km. Thanks to Ivan Zhitenev, who shared his impressions with the forum members after his debut at Ironman. The debutant called his mentor and inspiration a unique athlete, for whom the “iron triathlon” formula is, if not a walk, then a sprint distance!!! Such endurance supermen are called ultratriathletes. There are not many of them in the whole world who are seriously involved in cyclical self-torture: 2-3 dozen. Alexander Simonov is the only representative of Russia at the World and European Championships in ultratriathlon and its varieties. By the way, A. Simonov is a candidate for master of sports in cross-country skiing.
He was prompted to take up triathlon by a fatal diagnosis from doctors after military builder Simonov’s Afghan mission.
Probably, the doctors who pronounced a “death sentence” on 27-year-old Alexander Simonov, even in their most optimistic hopes, could not imagine that the athlete would celebrate his fortieth birthday, preparing for the World Ultratriathlon Championship, where he would have to overcome - please think about it, dear readers, These figures include 11 km swimming, 540 km cycling and 126 km running...
Here are some excerpts from an interview with the European ultratriathlon champion:
“After graduating from military school, I was sent to Afghanistan. I returned from there very sick, I was almost dying: hepatitis, malaria, plus fever. Naturally, there was no question of any triathlon. The doctors examined me and came to the conclusion that With such a liver, I will only live for a short time. This, of course, did not suit me, and I took up medical self-education, while simultaneously starting gentle training.
Then I worked in the construction and installation department and on weekends I started running - slowly, but a lot. He followed a strict diet, did not drink alcohol for eight years - he was treated and trained. Then I started thinking about triathlon again. However, I had very big problems with swimming and at the age of thirty I set a goal - to learn. I bought a membership to the pool and worked out after work.
One day, after swimming 1500 meters, I realized that I was ready to overcome the Olympic triathlon distance: 1.5 km swimming, 40 km cycling and 10 km running. But my health did not yet allow me to count on anything; constant stress at work only aggravated this problem. And then my seniority came up. I retired. I was 33 years old when I took up professional sports, and at 37 I became a master of sports. The competition in the short triathlon is quite high, and it was hard for me, who was not yet completely healthy. I switched to long distances where the speed is slower. But no Iron Man competitions were held in Russia. Finally, I accidentally read in a magazine that there is an ultratriathlon organization. I sent a request there and I was invited to the Iron Man tournament in Panevezys. It was '97. He performed well for a debutant - he finished fifteenth with thirty participants, and was accepted into the family of ultratriathletes.
My diagnosis - liver cirrhosis - is a thing of the past, and the only thing that is contraindicated for me is nervous stress. So I probably won’t return to construction.
Ultratriathlon is double or triple the distance of the classic Ironman triathlon: double - swimming 7.6 km, cycling 360 km, running 84 km; tripled - swimming 11.4 km, cycling 540 km, running 126 km. World championships at these distances are held every year. There is also a ten-time triathlon. It is held once every two years in Mexico. This is the most extreme competition on the planet. It is believed that even climbing an eight-thousander is easier. Judge for yourself: the distance of a ten-time triathlon is 38 km of swimming, 1800 km of cycling and 422 km of running without the right to rest. When climbers climb, they can rest or wait for good weather as long as they want. This is excluded here. There is a time limit - two weeks, after which the results are no longer taken into account. There are only 25-30 people in the whole world who can overcome such a route! The best result is 8 days 8 minutes.
Alexander Simonov has his own page on Runet. You can watch it
Triathlon– a cyclic sport, a continuous triathlon, which in the classic version includes swimming, cycling and running.A Brief History of Triathlon
Triathlon– a fairly young sport. The concept of triathlon originated in France in the 20-30s. 20th century, where competitions similar to modern triathlon were held, consisting of crossing a canal by swimming, cycling and running, and the participants completed all stages without a break.From the mid-30s to the mid-70s of the last century, there is practically no information about such competitions. In 1974, in California (USA), the track and field club from San Diego organized the first triathlon competition. Competitors competed in a 5.3-mile (8.5 km) run, a 5-mile (8 km) bike race and a 600-yard (549 meter) swim.
In 1978, triathlon competitions called Iron Man(Iron Man). The distance, now called classic or iron, consists of three stages, overcome without interruption: a swim of 2.4 miles (3.86 km), a bike ride of 112 miles (180.25 km) and a run of 26.2 miles ( 42.195 km). The annual Ironman World Championship takes place in Hawaii (USA). It is preceded by a series of Ironman and Ironman 70.3 (Half Ironman) qualifying events held around the world. The 50 men and 35 women with the most points qualify for the Ironman World Championship. Winning this championship, and even participating in it, is a great achievement for a triathlete. Ironman competitions are organized by The World Triathlon Corporation.
In addition to the Ironman series, there are currently many other races taking place around the world at the classic iron distance, shorter and longer distances.
In 1989, the International Triathlon Union (ITU) was founded, whose main goal was to include triathlon in the Olympic program. Triathlon was included in the Olympic Games in 2000 (Sydney, Australia). Olympic distance triathlon These are: 1500 meters swimming, 40 km cycling and 10 km running around the stadium. There are no breaks between disciplines. The official World Triathlon Championship has been held annually since 1989, and the multi-stage World Cup has been held annually since 1991. The ITU Long Course World Championships are also held. Currently, under the auspices of the ITU, competitions are also held in duathlon (running + cycling), aquathlon (running + swimming + running), winter triathlon (cross-country + cyclo-cross + skiing), and indoor triathlon. An interesting fact is that underwater wrestling is also called “aquathlon”.
Development ultratriathlon, the distances of which exceed the classic (iron) by 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20 times, are carried out by the International Ultratriathlon Association (IUTA). The deca-ultratriathlon (10 iron distances) and double deca-triathlon (20 iron distances) competitions are held differently: in the first case, participants first overcome the entire swimming distance, then the entire cycling distance, and finally the entire running distance; in the second case, the athlete walks one iron distance during the day. All ultratriathlon distances require sleep breaks.
Triathlon distances
The popularity of triathlon in the world is growing rapidly. Many competitions are held annually at a large number of different distances, under the auspices of various sports organizations. It may not be necessary to know and understand them all. The main triathlon distances are presented in the table below.Name |
Organization |
Distances |
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Swimming |
Bike |
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Supersprint |
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Sprint (SD) |
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Olympic (OD) |
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Double Olympic (2 x OD) |
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Long ITU (3 x OD) |
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Half Iron (Half Iroman, episode 70.3) |
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Iron (classical, Iroman) |
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Double Ultratriathlon |
General triathlon rules
Triathlon competitions always take place in strict order: first swimming, then cycling and finally running. Let's take a closer look at the progress of individual stages of triathlon competitions*:- Swimming
The competition begins with swimming. In triathlon and aquathlon, swimming begins at the start and ends with exiting the water near the transit zone (a special fenced area that is not part of the swimming, cycling or running distance, where athletes’ belongings intended for competitions are located - clothing, equipment, inventory).
Participants start from a pontoon, from the shore, or directly from the water (long triathlon).
You can swim in any style, but the fastest swimming method is usually used - front crawl. You are allowed to swim underwater. At the beginning and end of each circle, you can push off from the bottom with your feet. Athletes are allowed to stand on the bottom or rest, holding onto stationary objects and objects (buoys, boats). If a participant has problems. He must raise his hand and wait for help; after assistance is provided, he leaves the competition.
Athletes move along a distance marked by buoys and ropes. It is prohibited to shorten the route; Each such violation leads to penalty points or even disqualification.
During the swim, competitors use nose clips. At temperatures below +14 °C at distances up to 1500 meters inclusive, +16 °C at distances above the Olympic distance, it is necessary to use a wetsuit up to 5 mm thick. At temperatures above +20 °C at a distance of up to 1500 meters inclusive, above +22 °C at a distance above the Olympic distance, the use of a wetsuit is not allowed. The swimming distance may be reduced or canceled due to temperature (water and air) and weather conditions (for example, strong wind, hail, rain).
Athletes are prohibited from using devices that accelerate movement, socks and gloves, fabric covering their arms or legs, or only the lower part of a wetsuit during the swimming distance.
After leaving the water, participants change clothes in the transit area and get on their bikes.
- Bicycle race
The cycling route begins at the point where you get on the bike and ends at the point you get off it. On the cycling course you must ride, carry or drive a bicycle in marked corridors.
It is prohibited to impede the movement of other competition participants or interfere with other athletes while changing clothes and preparing bicycles.
By default, participants comply with the traffic rules of the country where the competition is taking place.
Dragging or leading (following the competitor in front in a 10-meter aerodynamic zone) may or may not be permitted. In competitions where drafting is prohibited, a competitor may only enter the drafting area for a short time for the purpose of overtaking. Violation of drafting rules in competitions with prohibited drafting will result in a temporary fine, and repeated violations will result in disqualification.
The technical characteristics of bicycles are strictly specified in the rules.
While the athlete is on the bike, removing or putting the bike on the rack, during any time the athlete is on the track, he must wear a helmet. Athletes must wear cycling uniforms regulated by the rules.
- Run
In triathlon and aquathlon, the running course begins at the exit of the transit zone and ends at the finish line.
The athlete can move along the track by running or walking. Crawling (when an athlete places three or more limbs in contact with the ground simultaneously or sequentially in order to move forward) is not permitted.
It is not allowed to run bare-chested, without shoes, or with a bicycle helmet on your head.
It is prohibited for the athlete to be accompanied by other persons.
You cannot use stationary objects to help you make turns (for example, clinging to trees).
Specifics of triathlon and open water swimming
Open water swimming is quite different from swimming in a pool. After all, in a reservoir there is no drawn line at the bottom of the pool, sides or wave breakers. To successfully swim in open water, an athlete must have the following skills: skills How:- the ability to navigate the water, swim along a strictly defined route;
- ability to swim in a straight line and make turns at buoys;
- ability to swim in a wetsuit;
- skill (the ability to stay directly behind a faster-swimming swimmer or slightly behind to the side of him);
- the ability to control excitement, especially at the moment of a collective start, when a large number of swimmers are in a limited space at once;
- the ability to choose the most effective strategy and adapt to changing conditions during the swim.
Superheroes are not born - they are made.
The most prestigious and toughest competition of all time, IRONMAN, turns 38 this year. Perhaps the main difference between the “iron” race and all other sports competitions is that the participants compete with each other to a lesser extent - everyone overcomes themselves. Here the main opponent is fatigue, and the main ally is will. Here it is not so important how you reach the finish line, it is important to reach the end.
Victor Zhidkov
Chairman of the Board of Investment Bank, triathlete and IRONMANWhen I first heard about IRONMAN, I simply didn’t believe it was possible. But something still grabbed me about him. Having studied and experienced the distance, my friends and I realized that we had to try. First we did a half IRONMAN, then our friends did a full one - I still continued to prepare, since I always train with a large reserve, at my own rhythm and without fanaticism. And when I realized that I was ready, I did my first full IRONMAN. Next year I plan to do it for the fifth time. For me, this is now a way of life, or rather, life itself.
Many people say that IRONMAN is dangerous and destroys the body, but this is not true. Perhaps the very day when a person goes to the starting line does not bring any benefit as such, but the efforts that he makes to be at the starting line make him completely different.
The IRONMAN triathlon consists of three stages that follow each other without interruption: a swim (3.86 kilometers), a bike ride (180.25 kilometers) and a run (42.195 kilometers). Participants must cover the entire distance in 17 hours (less is possible, more is not). The completion of each stage is limited: 2 hours 20 minutes are allotted for swimming, the cycling race ends at 17:30, the race - at midnight. Didn't have time - disqualification. Succeeded - victory.
IRONMAN triathlon: how it all began
In 1978, during the awards ceremony after the annual race in Hawaii, a heated debate broke out among the participants about which athletes could be called the most enduring - swimmers, runners or cyclists. John Collins, a Marine and one of the main debaters, argued that they were undoubtedly cyclists. He referred to an article in Sports Illustrated about the Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx - he was recognized as the fittest athlete in the world, as he had the highest recorded maximum oxygen consumption. To test this, Collins proposed a race combining three existing events that were held annually in Hawaii: the Waikiki Roughwater Swim (3,862 kilometers), the Around-Oahu Bike Race (185 kilometers, originally held in two day) and the Hanolulu Marathon (42.195 kilometers). Collins calculated that if the bike race were shortened by 4.8 kilometers and routed clockwise around the island, the course would start at the finish line of the swim course and end at Aloha Tower, the traditional starting point for the Honolulu Marathon. “And whoever finishes first will be called IRONMAN,” Collins said. And despite the fact that the idea of new competitions was met by the participants in the dispute without much enthusiasm, John, together with his wife Judy, began preparing the most deadly and powerful start in the world. Today, the IRONMAN triathlon is held in more than 10 countries around the world, but the main annual world championship, the Ironman World Championship, is held, as it was 38 years ago, in Hawaii.
It is worth noting that IRONMAN is by no means the first triathlon competition. Most sports historians agree that triathlon originated in France at the beginning of the 20th century - in the town of La Rochelle, Les Trois Sports races (three sports competitions) were held, similar to modern triathlon starts, only the distances were much shorter then - swimming in a canal (200 meters), cycling (10 kilometers) and running in Laleu Park (1.2 kilometers). Regular triathlon competitions - the “Race of the Resourceful” - began to be held only in 1920, they included running (3 kilometers), cycling (12 kilometers) and swimming (crossing the Marne Canal). But talk about making triathlon an Olympic sport began only in the 90s - for a long time the world sports community could not come to a consensus on what the length of each distance should be. In September 1995, the International Olympic Committee nevertheless included triathlon in the program of the Olympic Games, and the International Triathlon Union adopted the following resolution: triathlon is swimming (1.5 kilometers), cycling (40 kilometers) and running (10 kilometers). A distance less than the Olympic distance is called sprint (swimming 0.75 kilometers, cycling 20 kilometers, running 5 kilometers), more - ultra-long (swimming 1.93 kilometers, cycling 90 kilometers and running 21.1 kilometers - this is a “half-iron” distance; swimming 3, 86 kilometers, cycling 180 kilometers and running 42.2 kilometers - classic IRONMAN; swimming 10 kilometers, cycling 420.2 kilometers and running 84.3 kilometers - “ultra-iron” distance).
Especially for you, we have collected the most interesting facts about the coolest and toughest race in the world, the participants of which never tire of proving: if there is a goal, then nothing is impossible.
1. First winner of the IRONMAN triathlon
On February 18, 1978, on the island of Oahu (Hawaii) at seven o'clock in the morning, the first IRONMAN in history started. Each participant received a note with the same legendary phrase, which later became the slogan of the IRONMAN triathlon: “Swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, run 26.2 miles and be proud of it for the rest of your life!” Of the 15 starters, only 12 reached the finish line, and the fastest of them was the American Gordon Haller, who completed the distance in 11 hours 46 minutes and 58 seconds. Gordon, a physicist by training, worked part-time as a night taxi driver in 1978. He woke up late in the day and immediately went to exercise - he ran, swam and rode a bike, after which he slept and went to work. So, unbeknownst to himself, he was not only able to prepare for a grueling race, but also go down in history as the first winner of the coolest competition in the world.
2. First female IRONMAN
In 1979, Lyn Lumer became the first woman to complete the iron distance, finishing in 12 hours, 55 minutes, 38 seconds. Lin, a biochemist by training, was an excellent swimmer since childhood, went on long cycling tours from Vancouver to Los Angeles, and in 1975 took second place in the 40-kilometer individual race. When the girl found out about IRONMAN, she immediately realized that she needed to participate! On the day of the start there was a strong wind and it was pouring rain, out of the declared 30 people, 15 refused to participate, and 15 went to the start - among them was Lumer, who eventually took fifth place in the overall standings. Lin later recalled that she literally forced herself to go forward - she could no longer run. Step by step, she begged herself not to stop. And she didn’t stop. In the fall of 1979, Lin entered Harvard Law School and six years later founded and headed the Ultrasport magazine, which existed for 17 years and all this time was published in a million copies. This is how the IRONMAN triathlon changes lives and opens up new horizons.
3. The youngest IRONMAN
The youngest competitor to ever complete the IRONMAN distance was 14-year-old Rodkey Faust from the small town of Rusdrum, Idaho, who finished the race in February 1982 with a time of 13 hours, 36 minutes, 17 seconds. Perhaps there would have been even more young ironmen, but a few years later the organizers decided to introduce a lower age limit of 18 years. But since 1985, the International Triathlon Organization has established a new competition, IRONKIDS, specifically for children from 3 to 15 years old. Of course, the distances that children need to cover are significantly less than for adults: 45.72 meters swimming, 3.2 kilometers cycling, 457.2 meters running for children from 6 to 8 years old; 137 meters swimming, 6.4 kilometers cycling, 1.6 kilometers running for children from 9 to 11 years old; 274.32 meters swimming, 12.87 kilometers cycling, 3.2 kilometers running for children from 12 to 15 years old.
4. Longest IRONMAN
5. Most Spectacular IRONMAN Finish
In 1982, 23-year-old college student Julie Moss overnight became one of the most famous IRONMANs of all time. Julie owes her wild popularity to ABC's World Wide channel, which showed millions of viewers how, step by step, overcoming pain, Moss moved towards the finish line. If you need a boost, just watch this footage (WARNING: For particularly impressionable triathletes, we ask you to arm yourself with handkerchiefs).
6. The most difficult IRONMAN
Today, Norseman in Norway is considered the most difficult IRONMAN. Just imagine: swimming in a fjord (water temperature 10-15 degrees), cycling through the mountains and a marathon with the finish at the highest point - 42 kilometers almost uphill. 226 kilometers from start to finish. Interestingly, 60% of the participants are residents of Norway, and only 15% of the athletes are women. Perhaps Norseman is the most powerful challenge to human capabilities.
Photo: triathlete-europe.competitor.com
7. The craziest IRONMAN
American James Lawrence is an absolute record holder and hero. This "iron cowboy" - James got his nickname for his love of cowboy hats - did 50 IRONMAN races in 50 days in 50 states this summer. Yes, yes, we made a mistake, and you made a mistake - 50 races, one every day. In honor of this significant event, James launched his own and distributed a million interviews. The father of five explained his decision with a desire to draw public attention to the problems of obesity among adolescents. On June 6, James did the first IRONMAN in Hawaii, then on June 7 in Alaska, and then in 48 neighboring states. Interestingly, during his IRONMAN tour, James “ate” about 8,500 calories every day, and half of them during the race: 2,000 calories between the swim and bike race (he usually ate eggs and potatoes), the next 2,000 calories - while riding a bicycle (sandwiches given to him by volunteers and members of his large family).
The finish of IRONMAN is perhaps the most fantastic spectacle that you will not see in any other sport. Spotlight beams, thousands of spectators, completely tired but absolutely happy athletes. A few more seconds, a few more steps - and they will hear these cherished four words: “YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!” This phrase is inextricably linked with another iconic figure in racing, Mike Riley - “the voice of IRONMAN”. Mike first took the microphone in 1989 to call out the names of finishing athletes, and since then he has proclaimed tens of thousands of triathletes around the world Ironmen. “I can say for sure that I pronounce 95% of the names and surnames of the participants correctly. I don’t argue - with 5% it’s difficult. But many athletes, knowing in advance that difficulties may arise with the pronunciation of their names, before the competition send me private messages on Facebook with recommendations and the correct accent, and I, naturally, mark all this on my list. I know how important this is for a person, what an important moment this is in his life. A true triumph. That’s why I want to pronounce every first and last name correctly.”