triathlon

American  

[trahy-ath-luhn] / traɪˈæθ lən /

noun

1. an athletic contest comprising three consecutive events, usually swimming, bicycling, and distance running.

2. a women's track-and-field competition comprising the 100-meter dash, high jump, and shot put.

3. British. a competition comprising fly-casting, horseback-riding, and trapshooting events.

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triathlon British  

/ traɪˈæθlɒn /

noun

1. an athletic contest in which each athlete competes in three different events: swimming, cycling, and running

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Usage

What is a triathlon? The word triathlon most commonly refers to an athletic competition in which athletes compete in a race that involves swimming, cycling, and distance running.The traditional triathlon begins with a 1.5-kilometer open-water swim, followed by a 40-kilometer bike race, and finishes with a 10-kilometer run. This triathlon format is an event in the Summer Olympic Games.Triathlons sometimes feature different formats. A longer version often branded as an Ironman triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile (3.9-km) swim, a 112-mile (180.2-km) bike, and marathon-length run of 26.2 miles (42.2 km).In 2021, the Olympics introduced a shorter, relay version of the triathlon featuring teams of two men and two women. Each member of the team must complete a triathlon consisting of a 300-meter swim, an 8-kilometer bike ride, and a 2-kilometer run.The name triathlon is also applied to other three-part athletic competitions that are not a race but are instead score-based (the three events are not held directly one after another as part of a race like they are in the swim-cycle-run version of a triathlon).The track-and-field version of a triathlon consists of the 100-meter dash, high jump, and shot put.In the U.K., the word triathlon sometimes refers to a three-part skill competition involving fly-casting, horseback-riding, and trapshooting.A triathlon is sometimes informally called a tri for short. Athletes who participate in a triathlon can be called triathletes.Example: The triathlon is nearing its third stage now as the triathletes transition from the cycling portion to the run.

Other Word Forms

• triathlete noun

Etymology

Origin of triathlon

First recorded in 1970–75; tri- + (dec)athlon