World Triathlon embrace need for change with ambitious Olympic dream
Their hope comes in the form of the Professional Triathlon Organisation's (PTO) 100km distance.
During its first season, the T100 World Triathlon Tour - which consists of a 2km swim, 80km bike and 18km run - was watched by more than 50 million viewers and has made significant steps forward in professionalising the sport.
It is the latest format in a wave of long-distance triathlon events that are sweeping the globe, with 70.3 and full distance IRONMAN finishers also growing in numbers.
In a bid to keep up with mass participation figures, Arimany feels that now is the time to think big.
"We are in a unique moment and time for long distance triathlon," he said.
"The growth of the T100 event has been special and it has the potential to grow in mass participation and for elite athletes.
The early morning rise!
Athletes took a ride of the bike course this morning ahead of a late afternoon of racing ⚡️
Tune in for #WTCSHamburg on https://t.co/YFY80R4UW2 from 16:45 CEST.#Triathlon pic.twitter.com/ecKSaLf42A
"We need to motivate the PTO to keep investing in their T100 Series so we get to a point where we can hopefully bring it to an Olympic Games.
"The broadcasting of the event needs to be attractive from a TV and spectator point of view to keep them entertained and I think we can succeed on that.
"If we can create a great commercial product, then we can convince the International Olympic Committee and bring an event that offers value to the Olympic programme."
Triathlon made its Olympic debut at Sydney 2000 and the mixed relay event was added at Tokyo 2020, with ambitions for a new long-distance event to run alongside those already on the programme.
Despite the popularity of 70.3 and full distance IRONMAN events, it is in the 100km format that World Triathlon have put their faith in as the future of the sport.
PTO CEO Sam Renouf helped launch the T100 just 18 months ago and is dreaming big with regard to its future.
"We're really happy with the progress and particularly the data around mass participation, social media engagement and TV viewership which are all really important to the Olympic movement,' he said.
"The T100 distance has become the most popular because it is still long and an endurance event, which is has to be as the definition of a triathlon, but it is short enough to be accessible and sustainable.
🚨 NEWS JUST IN - this is going to be WILD!
Wollongong just got even more epic – World Triathlon & T100 are teaming up Down Under!
The World Triathlon Championship Finals AND the T100 World Tour (Pro race only) will now take place on the same week (15-19 October) 🤝
Two… pic.twitter.com/4rXpsQvnoI
"Triathlon is still quite a niche sport and it should be difficult as that is a part of the sport. But as individual sports, nearly a billion people do them, so that market is there.
"It's about how we drive that growth and the Olympics is the best possible thing because it will always be the biggest platform for the sport."
The T100 Tour also saw over 21,000 amateur athletes take part last year, as well as several celebrity endorsements, including McFly's Harry Judd, who raced the T100 London in 2024.
Three-time Olympic swimming champion Adam Peaty and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey, meanwhile, will both be taking on the standard distance event in London this summer.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics last summer, the organising committee introduced a mass participation marathon event 'Marathon Pour Tous', with over 20,000 people running the marathon route the night before the pros took to the stage.
It's an opportunity that Arimany believes the IOC could replicate for triathlon at Brisbane 2032 - should the distance be introduced.
"We want to do something new because we are in a different moment and time," he added.
"The LA Games will bring a new way to watch the sport and participate and so our new era can create a new platform again.
"We want to evolve the sport in the 21st century and keep up with social media to engage spectators."
The next T100 Triathlon World Tour race is in London on 9-10 August. Visit www.t100triathlon.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
6 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Don't look back in Angers: Wiebes sprints to stage three win at Tour de France Femmes
Lorena Wiebes is widely known as the best sprinter in women's cycling and the Dutch rider did not disappoint on stage three of the Tour de France Femmes, coming from deep to roar past her rivals and pip Marianne Vos at the finish line in Angers. Wiebes' victory capped a chaotic last few kilometres, with dozens of riders caught up in a heavy crash on a narrow bend. The 2023 Tour winner, Demi Vollering, seen as one of the favourites for general classification this year, went down hard and had to be helped back on her bike by her FDJ-Suez teammates, before gingerly rolling over the finish line to stay in the race. Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) was another who looked hurt, although none of the affected riders will lose time in the GC standings as the crash occurred less than five kilometres before the end of the stage. Wiebes had been disappointed to miss out on a potential sprint victory on Sunday after Mavi García's well-judged breakaway, but the European champion made no mistake on Monday as Wiebes bided her time before roaring past her rivals on the home straight, before finishing with too much pace for her trailing compatriot, Marianne Vos. Vos had to settle for second place behind but reclaimed the yellow jersey after narrowly losing it to Kim Le Court after stage two. 'It was very hectic, very fast,' Vos said of the finish. 'Of course, everyone was fighting for position and I think when we went right on to the river there was a big crash behind me. I hope everyone is well.' Vos, 38, is now six seconds ahead of Mauritius' Le Court in the general classification after the flat 163.5km ride from La Gacilly to Angers. France's Olympic cross-country champion, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, completed the top three, 12 seconds behind, with last year's Tour winner, Katarzyna Niewiadoma, fourth. Vollering remains fifth in the GC standings but faces a short window of recovery after her crash before Tuesday's fourth stage, another flat stage from Saumur to Poitiers.
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
Cameron House welcomes Olympic swimmer Hector Pardoe as he embarks on epic ‘3 Lake Challenge' from Loch Lomond
Cameron House is proud to host Team GB Olympic Open Water Swimmer, Hector Pardoe and his crew to the banks of Loch Lomond as he launches his extraordinary '3 Lake Swim Challenge' - a 24-hour mission to swim the full length of Loch Lomond, Windermere, and Lake Bala. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The epic swim, which kicks off at midnight on Friday, August 1 from Ardlui on the shores of Loch Lomond, will see Hector cover over 50km of open water in just one day, raising vital awareness for Surfers Against Sewage and the urgent need to protect the UK's natural waters. The five-star resort is honoured to host Hector and his support team as they prepare for the most remote and demanding leg of the challenge at Loch Lomond. Cameron House staff will be cheering from the shoreline as Hector begins this powerful campaign under the stars, swimming through the night across Scotland's largest loch. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Will Oakley, Managing Director of Cameron House Resort, said: 'We're thrilled to host Hector and his family at Cameron House, and to play a part in his remarkable journey. Loch Lomond is one of the most iconic stretches of water in the UK, and we're proud to see it take centre stage for such an important cause.' Team GB Olympian, Hector Pardoe The 3 Lakes Challenge will also spotlight issues around clean water, sustainability, and the importance of preserving Scotland's natural environment. The campaign is supported by Jeep, who will provide a fleet of electric vehicles for Hector's crew throughout the 24-hour expedition. Olympian Hector Pardoe, said: 'Loch Lomond is vast, remote and dark. It will be the most challenging part of the swim. But it's also the most beautiful, a reminder of exactly why we need to protect these wild places.'
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Almost half of women have been dished sexist insults playing sports, survey shows
Nearly half of female athletes face sexist slurs — even from coaches SHOCK FIGURES Almost half of women have been dished sexist insults playing sports, survey shows Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ALMOST half of women have faced sexist jibes while playing sport – with many being told they "throw like a girl", "look like a man", or are "not strong enough". The shocking stats come from a UK-wide survey of 3,000 female athletes and amateur players, revealing the widespread abuse women face on and off the pitch. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Former Team GB Olympian Sam Quek, won gold in the 2016 Games for Britain in hockey Credit: AXA The poll found 42 per cent had been told women weren't as good at sport as men, while nearly one in three (32 per cent) had been labelled 'soft' or inferior. Male strangers on the street (47 per cent), male athletes (44 per cent), and even male coaches (36 per cent) were named as the most common culprits behind the abuse. Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, deputy chief medical officer at AXA Health Insurance, which commissioned the research, said: 'It can be a lose-lose situation for women sometimes. 'Despite the progress which has been made to improve access to women's sport, the research shows there's still a long way to go to making sport an equal playing field for all. 'Comments about physical ability or derogatory statements about gender have no place in sport or exercise.' Other barriers holding women back include menstrual health – with 39 per cent saying their performance was affected – and 29 per cent reporting low energy levels. Olympic gold medallist Sam Quek said: 'Speak up and you're difficult – stay quiet, and you're weak. 'As a woman in sport, I've experienced and also heard a number of insults, problems and accusations. ''Oh, she's hormonal, oh, she's on her period, she throws like a girl, she's not strong enough – the list is endless. 'One area in women's sport which I have loved to see evolve is the menstrual cycle and women's periods, because whether you like it or not, it does affect sporting performance. Almost half of women have been dished sexist insults playing sports, survey shows 'We are not using it as an excuse, we just needed a greater understanding.' The research also revealed that 78 per cent believe female athletes don't get the credit they deserve, despite 94 per cent of parents saying it's important to set a good example when it comes to exercise. Shockingly, 58 per cent of women who've been on the receiving end of sexist abuse admitted it made them consider quitting sport altogether. To change things, nearly nine in ten (88 per cent) said people in sport, from coaches to spectators, need to do more to stop the abuse. Suggestions include calling out bad behaviour (74 per cent), promoting equal chances (65 per cent), and praising women when deserved (56 per cent). Dr Bradshaw added: 'Sport and exercise – from running to rugby, lacrosse to lifting weights, can have huge benefits both physically and mentally, and help keep bones, joints and muscles healthy as we age. 'It's important we ensure that women are treated fairly, so we need to normalise flexing training plans to suit women's needs, such as using the stages of the menstrual cycle to benefit training. 'We know that certain stages of the cycle women can feel more fatigued, but there are stages where they might feel stronger, too – so they can use this to their advantage. "Women menstruating are also more likely to suffer injuries, so this should be factored into training plans. 'And as female athletes get older, we need to ensure they have the confidence to challenge expectations and reset their own priorities to find what works best for them, rather than giving up entirely.' Sam Quek added: 'Sport for me is magical. It's for everyone. "To any female involved in sport who has been told they're too much – you're not, you're you. And to any female who has been told we're not enough, we are enough.' SEXIST ABUSE FACED BY WOMEN PLAYING SPORTS: 1. Being told women aren't as good at sports as men 2. Mocking or belittling women's sports as inferior or 'soft' 3. Being told that you 'throw like a girl' as an insult 4. Sexual comments or harassment during or after playing sports 5. Being wolf whistled 6. Being told you're 'too emotional' to handle high-pressure situations 7. Being told you should 'smile more' while playing 8. Criticism focused on appearance instead of athletic performance 9. Being asked about relationship status or family plans instead of their skills 10. Doubts cast on your sexuality for playing 'masculine' sports
