The triathlon (of the Greek τρι: three; αθλον: test) is a sporting discipline consisting of the sequence of three tests: Swimming, Cycling and Race on foot. The distances vary according to the competitions.
Associating three sports of endurance, the triathlon also associates three mediums of practice:
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Swimming (water): generally out of interstitial water, i.e. apart from the reassuring environment of a basin of swimming with mark and watermarks at the bottom, swimming can take place at sea, in lake or pond, even in river (in the direction of the current).
- Cycling (air): generally in the form of against the watch individual, therefore free from shelter of the group (each runner must respect a variation of 7 meters minimum with the competitor which precedes it; the goings beyond must be carried out with a side variation of 2 meters).
- Race on foot (ground): it is about a basic race on road or way.
The sequence of the 3 tests without pause on behalf of the competitors imposes to them, in addition to being powerful in each discipline, to carry out fast transitions between each test. The candidates must thus as soon as possible remove their combination of swimming at the exit of water and thread their helmet (obligatory) before jumping - to the clean direction most often on the bicycle. They must in the same way efficiently descend from their mounting once the cyclist part carried out and thread their shoes of race on foot as quickly as possible. The speed to carry out the two transitions (often noted T1 and T2) can prove to be determining on short triathlons, in particular at the time of those authorizing the drafting: “to catch the good package with bicycle” is then very important, and a bad transition can cost invaluable efforts to return in the group.
History
In France was held at the beginning of the 20th century (towards 1920) what can be regarded as the first competitions of triathlon. Indeed on the edges of the Marne to Joinville-le-Pont, in Parisian suburbs, “the Three Sports”, it is the name of these tests, take place Sundays of summer. Swimming is often replaced by canoeing. User-friendliness and the sporting spirit make these tests an appointment of the amateurs of combined efforts. At the beginning of the Années 1940 always appears with Poissy in Parisian suburbs, of the triathlons called “Race of Débrouillards” then “Race of the key to all”. The lack of ambition, in spite of good mood, involves the disappearance of these tests.In 1934, the race of the three sports is with La Rochelle the most strange moment of the year. It is a question of crossing the channel to the stroke either approximately 200 meters, of traversing ten kilometers with bicycle, of the port of the La Rochelle to the park of Laleu, district located more at north, and finally of swallowing three solo circuits, or 1.200 meters on the stage Andre-Barbel.
It will be necessary to wait until May 1975 to see reappearing with the E. - U. the first modern triathlon with Fiesta Island close to San Diego in California. On a distance of 800 meters in swimming, 8 km with bicycle and 8 km in race on foot clash Californian followers of a culture based on the multisport and the Fitness.
But large the Big Bang of the triathlon will come from Hawaii. In 1977 in the bar “Firstly” with Honolulu, John Hakes, Captain Veteran of US Navy, lance a challenge with the juniors by the Navy who have just beaten his team of Veterans in a relay, Oahu Perimeter Relay Race. He proposes to them to connect 3 tests among hardest of Hawaii: Waikiki Rough Toilets Swim (3,9 km of swimming), Around Oahu Bike Race (179 km of bicycle), the Marathon of Honolulu (42,195 km of race on foot). February 18th, 1978, 15 candidates spring in this insane adventure for the title “Ironman” (iron man). The first to cross the finishing line was Gordon Haller in 11:46 min 58 S. They will be 12 to finish the test. The triathlon built its legend.
Crossing the Atlantic, this revolutionary discipline conquers Northern Europe (the Netherlands, Belgium, West Germany) in 1981. This sporting wave extends in France, more precisely by the Riviera with Nice in 1982. The images “shocks” produced by Antenne 2 reveal this sport with the general public. Certain unconditional of the traditional activities shout “with insane”, but these sportsmen will create new followers.
The triathlon breaks with the practices, the sequence of its three components goes against any physiological logic. In fact, it leaves the “beaten” paths which are the stages and the swimming pools and carries a label which can appear mythical: “made in the U.S.A.”. Thus each year are held in Hawaii the championships of the Ironman world which gather 1.800 candidates, old from 18 to 80 years originating of more than 50 countries. Each year it are more than 50.000 athletes who try to qualify themselves. The record of the test is held at the men by the Belgian, Luc Van Lierde in 8:4 mn 8 S (established in 1996), and among women by Paula Newby-Fraser in 8:55 mn 28 S (1992). The absolute records on a Ironman race are held by Luc Van Lierde in 7:50 mn 27 S.
The triathlon became Olympic sport in 2000 in Sydney. It is the version “short distance” (1500 meters of swimming - 40 kilometers with bicycle then 10 kilometers of race on foot) which is selected like support of the Olympic race. This sequence 1500/40/10 since is sometimes called “C” (Olympic Distance) instead of always the very used diminutive “CD” (Short distance). As on the majority of the high level races using of short distances (Grands Prix of D1 in France, handles of world cup) the drafting, or “aspiration shelter” in French, is authorized on the Olympic race: the cyclist part of the race does not proceed in the form of against the watch individual, and the runners have the right to benefit from the aspiration produced by a competitor placed in front. In practice that is concretized by the formation of groups.
Types of tests and labels
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ITU (International Triathlon Union) is the official organization world to which are attached the federation continental and national, such FFtri. The distances having label ITU are the following ones:
The Olympic race is run on CD. It is necessary to note also that the ITU modified for the season the 2007 format of the LD, bringing back it from 4/120/30 (known as in the past “C”) for the 3/80/20 mentioned in the table above. This shorter distance was described before as average outdistances (MANDELEVIUM or " B"). These “federal” distances represent the very large majority of the organized races. The championship of world LD 2007 will take place in Lorient.
Very often, a race discovered (or “promotion”) is organized at the time of these federal races. Addressing itself to the initial adults in the triathlon and to tiny (who do not have the right to carry out longer distances) she proposes traditionally approximately 500 m of swimming, 20 km of bicycle and 5 km of race on foot. To note that for the season the 2007 French federation wishes to found a shorter format on the “discovered” tests, of type 250/8/2, in order to touch a larger and more female audience.
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the WTC (World Triathlon Corporation) is a company holder of the name and label “Ironman”. It is under its control that the races are organized being able to raise this mythical name. It is it which distributes the qualificative places for the championship of the world Ironman that it organizes every year in Hawaii. However, only the term “Ironman” is deposited and is property of the WTC. Thus, any organizer of race can propose the Ironman distances while choosing for his test another name. Thus famous races like the triathlon of Spray (France) or Roth (Germany) are run at Ironman distances without having the label of it. Since 2006, the WTC also proposes a world circuit Half-Ironman.
Other combinations of sport of endurance:
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Duathlon : associating race on foot, bicycle then race on foot;
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Triathlon of Snows: associating Ski touring, bicycle of mountain (or VTT) then race on foot;
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Aquathlon : associating swimming (generally out of basin) and race on foot;
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Multi-triathlons which associate several repetition of a fraction of triathlon.
Competitions
International competitions
National competitions
- Championships of France of triathlon 2006
- Championship of France of triathlon 2007
- Grands Prix of D1 in France
Material
It is possible to practice the triathlon provided with a simple bathing suit, of a bicycle in a position to advance (and to slow down), of a helmet and a pair of shoes of race on foot. However, of many equipment and specific accessories exist:
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a combination of neoprene is generally used for swimming. It is obligatory when the temperature of water is lower than 16°C, and prohibited with the top of 24°C. In the regular manner, its thickness should not exceed 5mm. In addition to thermal protection that it confers, the combination increases the buoyancy of the swimmer.
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When the combination is prohibited, the whole of the race can be carried out in trifonction . This fine combination can be carried during the whole of the triathlon. It dries quickly after swimming, is provided with a protection for the cyclist part and remains comfortable at the time of the race on foot.
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Of the bicycles to the specific geometry was developed by many manufacturers. By no means obligatory, these frameworks however are largely used by the high level triathlètes, in particular on the races long distance. Very close to the executives used by the cyclists at the time of the time trials, they allow an aerodynamic positioning of the runner on its bicycle.
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the extension cable , called still today a “handlebar of triathlète” in the cyclist medium, makes it possible the triathlète to adopt an aerodynamic position very advanced on its bicycle, elbows tightened. The use of this accessory and a powerful position are facilitated by the use of a specific bicycle or of against the watch. There exists many type of extension cables; only the short models and whose two bars are connected at their ends (decked extension cables) are authorized when the aspiration shelter is allowed on the race.
Practitioners
In France
- 22.100 bachelors
- + of 20.000 occasional practitioners
- 565 clubs
- 1000 tests
In Canada
See male Canadian National team of triathlon
See too
Internal bonds
- Ironman
- Didier Lehénaff, trainer and specialist in triathlon
- Nicolas Lebrun, triathlète professional
External bonds
- International federation of Triathlon
- European Federation of Triathlon
- French federation of Triathlon
- Triathlon Quebec
- Triathlon French-speaking Canada
- Belgian League of Triathlon and Duathlon
- Gate of the WTC, owner of the format Ironman
- specificities of the stroke in triathlon (www.staps.uhp-nancy.fr)
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