Discover Multisport
Disciplines#
Multisport is any combination of run, bike, or swim. With so many versions of these three sports, there are several ways to compete!
Swim, Bike, Run. The most common multisport event, triathlons allow athletes of all ages to challenge themselves by covering various distances by swimming, biking and running.
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Standard Triathlon Distances
| Discipline | Super Sprint | Sprint | Olympic-Distance | World Triathlon Long Course | Half | Full/Long Course |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swim | 400 meters | 750 meters | 1.5 km | 2 km | 1.2 miles | 2.4 miles |
| Bike | 10 km | 20 km | 40 km | 80 km | 56 miles | 112 miles |
| Run | 2.5 km | 5 km | 10 km | 20 km | 13.1 miles | 26.2 miles |
| Total | 12.9 km | 25.75 km | 51.5 km | 102 km | 70.3 miles | 140.6 miles |
Note: Distances are categorized by using the category in which two of the distances fall. If all three are in separate categories the distance is categorized by the bike.
Run, Bike, Run. In this most popular variant of triathlons, athletes complete two runs with one longer cycle leg in between. No water? No problem as no swimming is necessary in a duathlon.
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Duathlon Distances
| Discipline | Sprint | Standard | Middle | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Run 1 | 5 km | 10 km | 10 km | 10 km |
| Bike | 20 km | 40 km | 60 km | 150 km |
| Run 2 | 2.5 km | 5 km | 10 km | 30 km |
| Total | 27.5 km (17.1 miles) | 55 km (34.2 miles) | 80 km (49.7 miles) | 190 km (118.0miles) |
Run, swim, run. Aquathletes don't need two wheels to compete, they just run and swim. The format of aquathlons may differ depending on water temperature. If the swim requires a wetsuit, athletes will swim first and run second. If no wetsuit is required, they'll do a run, hit the water and finish back on the run course.
Standard Aquathlon Distances
| Discipline | Sprint | Standard | Long |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run 1 | 1.25 km | 2.5 km | 5 km |
| Swim | 500m | 1,000m | 2,000m |
| Run 2 | 1.25 km | 2.5 km | 5 km |
| Total | 3 km |
Swim, bike. Low impact, high fun! Aquabike allows athletes to compete in the two lower-impact multisport disciplines. Everyone everyone is welcome in aquabike waves, and this variation allows those who cannot run or prefer not to run to still participate in multisport.
Standard Aquabike Distances
| Discipline | Standard | Middle | Long |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swim | 1,500m | 1,900-3,000m | 3,000-4,000m |
| Bike | 40 km | 80-90 km | 90-200 km |
| Total | 41.5 km | 81.9-93 km | 93-204 km |
Swap pavement for trails and get a little dirty with off-road races! Primarily triathlons, off-road events swap road cycling and running for mountain biking and trail running. Off-road races demand plenty of skill in navigating the course safely.
Gravel
Gravel events are a variant of off-road events that feature gentler and, typically, wider trails. They can be mixed surface, dirt, gravel or other surfaces and typically won't have obstacles such as rocks, tree limbs or sharp turns to navigate over or past.
Run, Bike, Ski. Winter triathlons are by far the coolest multisport variant around (temperature-wise, at least). Leave the wetsuit at home and pack your ski poles as winter triathlons consist of running, mountain biking and cross-country skiing, all on snow. Not just a way to stay fit over the winter, World Triathlon has held world championship races since 1997.
Other race types use other disciplines in place of the swim, bike and/or run. Paddleboarding or canoeing can be a popular substitute for the swim leg.
In draft-legal races, athletes are allowed to draft (ride behind) other competitors to reduce wind resistance and save energy. Riders can save as much as 40% of their energy by riding in the slipstream of the rider in front of them. Draft-legal racing is typically faster and more competitive than non-drafting races as athletes can use drafting to conserve energy and make strategic moves during the race. However, they also require a high level of skill and strategy. Athletes must be able to anticipate and react to changes in the pack and make decisions about when to draft and when to break away.
Draft-legal racing is most common in triathlons and duathlons, although it's possible for any discipline with a bike leg to hold a draft-legal race. Both Olympic and NCAA races are draft-legal, and draft-legal racing is booming in popularity worldwide.
USA Triathlon History#
The history of USA Triathlon dates back to 1982 when the U.S. Triathlon Association and the American Triathlon Association merged under one unified National Governing Body called the U.S. Triathlon Association, with 1,500 members. The years since have seen the sport grow exponentially in the United States.
