triathlon

[trahy-ath-luhn]

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.

triathlon

/ traɪˈæθlɒn /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• triathlete noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of triathlon¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of triathlon¹

C20: from _tri- + Greek athlon contest

Example Sentences

A similar video was also posted by triathlon organiser Ironman, but despite their apologies Ms Yendle said she's been left feeling like "they were using my speech for clickbait".

From BBC

A former personal trainer, he has also completed two triathlons this year.

From BBC

An athlete has died after competing in the Ironman 70.3 Swansea triathlon event last weekend, organisers have said.

From BBC

Venice Beach will have the starting lines for the para triathlon and para marathon.

From Los Angeles Times

Olympic triathlon double bronze medallist Beth Potter returned to action with second place in the World Triathlon Championship Series in Yokohama.

From BBC

When To Use

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.