Paris Olympics 2024 triathlon race course: how much distance is each part?

The history of triathlon is more than a century old, with the first recorded event taking place in a Parisian suburb. This early version of the sport featured a run, a bike leg, and a canoe segment. By 1921, the format evolved closer to what we recognize today, comprising a run, a bike leg, and a swim across a river. Despite this evolution, triathlon remained relatively obscure, confined largely to France for several decades.

The sport experienced a significant transformation in the 1970s. On September 25, 1974, in Mission Bay, San Diego, California, Jack Johnston and Don Shanahan expanded upon a previous event—a biathlon comprising a swim and a run—by adding a biking segment.

Adhering to the convention of naming multisport events with Greek prefixes, they coined the term “triathlon,” combining “tri” for three and “athlon” for a contest. This inaugural Mission Bay Triathlon consisted of a three-mile run, a five-mile bike ride, and a swim of unspecified distance. Due to the swim segment’s lack of precise measurement, some participants ended up swimming in the dark, which may explain why the swim leg no longer concludes triathlon events.

Triathlon distances at the Olympic Games

In the 1980s, further developments ensued when Carl Thomas, a marketing executive at Speedo, aimed to popularize triathlon and secure its inclusion in the Olympic Games. Thomas proposed a more accessible format, akin to the duration of an Olympic marathon, rather than the arduous Ironman events.

This led to the creation of the Olympic distance triathlon, which consists of a 1500-meter swim, a 40-kilometer bike ride, and a 10-kilometer run. This format aligns with the standard distances of other Olympic sports.

Despite some resistance from countries favoring the Ironman format, Thomas and his supporters prevailed. Triathlon made its Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Games. To enhance its spectator appeal and ensure closer racing, the Olympic triathlon was made draft-legal, allowing athletes to draft on the bike leg. This rule change significantly impacted race strategies and outcomes, distinguishing the Olympic format from traditional longer-distance events.

Today, elite triathletes complete the Olympic distance at remarkable speeds. Top male athletes finish in around 1 hour and 40 minutes, while female athletes complete the course in under 2 hours. The final 10-kilometer run sees men finishing in approximately 29 minutes and women in about 33 minutes, showcasing the incredible athleticism and endurance required for this dynamic sport.