RIO 2016 | TRIATHLON MEDIA GUIDE 1 Triathlon | Media Guide 2 RIO 2016 | TRIATHLON MEDIA GUIDE RIO 2016 | TRIATHLON MEDIA GUIDE 3 ITU MEDIA CONTACTS ITU MEDIA CENTRE CONTENTS FOREWORD 4 media.triathlon.org OLYMPIC HISTORY 6 ITU OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION 7 ERIN GREENE ITU’s Online Media Centre has been produced to ITU TRIATHLON HISTORY 8 provide a portal for media to quickly gather all Senior Media Manager, ITU Communications relevant information about ITU, its events and WTS HISTORY 10 [email protected] athletes. Media Centre services include: Office: + 34 915 421 855 • Latest ITU news and press releases SCHEDULE, VENUE AND ROUTES 13 Mob: +34 645 216 509 • Up-to-date results, rankings and race statistics START LISTS 17 CHELSEA WHITE • Comprehensive athlete profile database Women start list 18 Media Delegate, ITU Communications • Rights-free high-resolution photos from all major events Men start list 20 [email protected] • Full audio from athlete interviews ATHLETE BIOS 23 Mob: +1 231 590 4026 • Access to broadcast quality race video highlights Women bios 24 FERGUS MURRAY • Start Lists for each race, available for Men bios 26 Senior Producer, ITU TV & Broadcast download prior to every event OLYMPIC HISTORY REVIEW 145 [email protected] For more information, or to register for a Media Centre account, visit Sydney 2000 Olympic Games 146 Office: +1 604 904 9248 media.triathlon.org Athens 2004 Olympic Games 152 Beijing 2008 Olympic Games 158 Social media London 2012 Olympic Games 164 @worldtriathlon, @triathlonlive PAST WORLD CHAMPIONS 171 facebook.com/worldtriathlon STATISTICS 175 @worldtriathlon @worldtriathlon Bunch of Stats 176 @worldtriathlon Olympic Stats 182 WTS / World Cup Stats 184 @worldtriathlon FAQ - IMPORTANT RULES 192 ITU websites GLOSSARY 194 triathlon.org/olympics Stay up to date on all Olympic triathlon information. WTS.Triathlon.org Dedicated to covering all things World Triathlon Series. 4 RIO 2016 | TRIATHLON MEDIA GUIDE RIO 2016 | TRIATHLON MEDIA GUIDE 5 Welcome to the men’s and women’s As we forge ahead with another triathlon at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro epic season, I'd like to reiterate FOREWORD Olympic Games! It’s hard to believe that ITU's commitment to growing the triathlon is being contested for the fifth sport of triathlon to evolving all of time at the Olympic Games. What a our multisports, but always with the journey it has been over the last 27 athletes being our foremost priority. years as an International Federation, having reached a level of success and While Mixed Relay won’t yet be included popularity beyond our imagination. in the Olympic programme, we are committed to seeing its entry at We are thrilled to be here in beautiful future Olympic Games. I’m sure after Brazil, with triathlon contested on the witnessing the men’s and women’s iconic Copacabana Beach and Sugarloaf triathlon in Rio that you will agree the Mountain looming in the distance. The Olympics would benefit from more stage is majestically set for athletes dynamic, fast paced triathlon racing. to swim, bike and run their way to the Olympic podium. We truly believe triathlon is for all, no matter the age or ability. We here at I’m proud to announce that this year’s ITU look forward to the challenge of Olympic fields feature the widest variety continuing to grow the sport in the of athletes we’ve ever seen before with coming years. Marisol Casado 42 National Federations represented on Sincerely, President, International Triathlon Union the start lists. The direction of triathlon continues to grow in the right direction, Member of the International Olympic with participation continuing to increase Committee every year, and races growing more competitive each season. We are so proud to have the whole world witness our amazing sport during the Games. 6 RIO 2016 | TRIATHLON MEDIA GUIDE RIO 2016 | TRIATHLON MEDIA GUIDE 7 OLYMPIC ITU OLYMPIC HISTORY QUALIFICATION Triathlon grew rapidly from its humble Triathlon made its official Olympic debut There are a total of 110 spots in In all, a record number of 42 NOCs beginnings in San Diego and within in Sydney, where Simon Whitfield and the triathlon events at the Rio 2016 had qualified spots at the triathlon a matter of years it became one of Brigitte McMahon stamped their names Olympics, 55 men and 55 women. competition for Rio 2016, the highest the fastest growing sports all over into the history books as the first gold The ITU’s international triathlon circuit, number ever for triathlon at an Olympic the world. The International Olympic medallists. In Athens, it was Hamish which includes the World Triathlon Games. In London there were 39 Committee (IOC) was intrigued by the Carter and Kate Allen’s golden turn Series, World Cups and Continental NOCs, and in Beijing 2008, there were sport’s meteoric growth and began before Emma Snowsill and Jan Frodeno Championships, is where athletes 36 NOCs that had qualified positions. discussions to include triathlon in the won the gold in Beijing. In London, it competed for Olympic qualification. Prior to that, there were 33 in Athens Olympic Games Programme in 1988. was Alistair Brownlee and Nicola Spirig The qualification took place over a 2004 and 34 in Sydney 2000, Then IOC president Juan Antonio that stood atop the podium. two-year period, from May 15th 2014 although in those Olympics, there were Samaranch arranged a meeting in until May 15th 2016, and athletes 50 women and 50 men on the start Stockholm that year with the intention Overall, Australia is on top of the competed both for themselves and their lists as opposed to 55 now. Among the of including triathlon in the Olympic Olympic medal tally with a total of five. respective countries to secure berths 42 NOCs this year, six have qualified Games as soon as possible. At that As well as Snowsill’s gold Australian for Rio 2016. a spot for the first time in the history meeting Canadian Les McDonald was women have collected two silver of triathlon at the Olympic Games, selected as President to a working medals and two bronze. Switzerland is The majority of National Federation including: Azerbaijan, Barbados, Israel, committee for triathlon, while Sweden’s next in the medal count with four – Olympic slots are decided through the Jordan and Norway. Sture Jonasson was elected as two of which were gold, followed by ITU Olympic qualification points lists. Secretary. Triathlon was officially added New Zealand with three medals. Then National Federations can also gain The eight NOCs that were able to to the Olympic Programme by the IOC Canada, Germany and Great Britain spots if one of their athletes wins a qualify the maximum of three women at its Congress in Paris in 1994. have two medals each, while Austria, continental championship, as well as are Australia, Canada, Germany, Great Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Czech by winning the ITU Olympic Qualification Britain, Japan, Spain, Russia, and the Republic and USA have all scored one Event. For Rio, this was the 2015 United States. Olympic medal. Rio Test Event. Additionally, National Federations can earn spots via new The eight NOCs that have qualified flag slots, in which the ITU awards the maximum of three men are berths to one country per continent Australia, France, Great Britain, that would otherwise not have a slot. Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Spain and the Once the NF spots have been decided, United States. athletes are then nominated by their For more on Olympic qualification, National Federation to fill then, and please see www.triathlon.org/ then selected by their National olympics/qualification Olympic Committee. 8 RIO 2016 | TRIATHLON MEDIA GUIDE RIO 2016 | TRIATHLON MEDIA GUIDE 9 ITU TRIATHLON HISTORY The first recorded Triathlon made its Olympic triathlon took place in debut at the 2000 Sydney The discipline first San Diego, California. First Duathlon World Games. Brigitte McMahon emerged in 1996, Organised by the San Championships held in (SUI) and Simon Whitfield but the inaugural ITU Diego Track & Field Club Cathedral City, USA (CAN) won the sport’s first as an alternative to the gold medals. The ITU World Triathlon Cross Triathlon World rigors of training on the First Long Distance Series was created as Championships were track, the race consisted Duathlon World ITU’s top tier race series, held in 2011 in of a 5.3-mile run, followed Championships held in staging multiple rounds in Extremadura, Spain. by a 5-mile bike and a The ITU Triathlon Zofingen, Switzerland, and iconic cities across 600-yard swim in the bay. World Cup Series began, the first Winter Triathlon the globe. A total of 46 athletes staging 11 races in World Championships took finished the race. eight countries. place in Mals, Italy. 1974 1989 1990 1991 1994 1997 1998 2000 2004 2008 2009 2010 2011 2015 The first Congress of ITU Tiathlon was awarded full First stand-alone ITU currently has more was organised by the Olympic Games medal Paratriathlon than 160 affiliated Working Committee in World Championships status by the IOC at its The sport was officially National Federations. Avignon, France on Congress in Paris. Aquathlon World held. accepted into the April 1. Thirty (30) NFs Championships were France’s Isabelle Marisol Casado Paralympic Games at the were in attendance. first held, providing the Mouthon-Michellys became ITU’s IPC Governing Four months later on opportunity for athletes and Rob Barel of the second President. Board meeting in August 6, the inaugural who only swam and ran to Netherlands won Guangzhou, China. World Championships join the multisport world. the first Long Distance was held in Avignon Triathlon World France over an “Olympic Championships.