STRONGER HIGHER FASTER
In five editions, triathlon has become as interlaced into Olympic tradition as the Games’ famous rings. If the vision of Pierre de Coubertin, its modern founding father, was for ‘stronger, higher, faster’ competition, then multisport has delivered in spades.
By the time we eventually reach the Tokyo Games, hopefully in July 2021, triathlon’s growing stature will be rewarded through its medal count and the addition of a mixed team relay. Paralympic paratriathlon is also established, a six-category debut at the Rio 2016 Games being boosted to eight for 2021.
Tri has come a long way in a short period. Olympic status is often the holy grail for sports, promising private member status to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), an unenviable platform of exposure every four years, and the riches of publicly-funded programmes. Yet while sports such as squash and netball clamoured for inclusion, triathlon stole a march on them.
Trialled as a non-medal event in Auckland’s 1990 Commonwealth Games, its impetus was supercharged by the foresight of an irascible leader from North East coal mining stock. The late Les McDonald, born in Newcastle but who spent his later life expatriated in Canada, would use his persuasive charm to woo IOC president, Brazilian Juan Antonio Samaranch.
“Les got Samaranch to watch a race,” recalls John Lunt, triathlon course manager at London 2012 and the founder of Human Race events. “He found the swim interesting, the run to T2 exciting, then they disappeared for an hour on the bike. ‘What do we do now?’ Samaranch asked: ‘Go and have a cup of tea.’”
This wasn’t going to catch on as a spectacle. It needed multiple laps and drafting allowed. “It became
