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Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum:
More Triathlon in the Olympics?

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JTRock

Jul 7, 08 10:30

Post #1 of 51 (1857 views)

More Triathlon in the Olympics?	Can't Post

So, rumor has it Les McDonald's grand plan for Triathlon in the Olympic Games is to create a multi-discipline umbrella with several sports under that umbrella, similar to Track.

In a perfect world Triathlon would have 5 events in the Games; the current draft legal format, at team race made up of three person teams with each member racing 1/3 the total Olympic distance before handing off to a teammate, Cross Triathlon (otherwise known as XTERRA), Winter Triathlon, and perhaps a long course (non-drafting) event.

Currently, the big push is to get team triathlon in. Obviously it would be very difficult to get Cross Triathlon or a Non-Drafting event in as there is a plethora of difficulties including; rival race organizations (XTERRA, WTC), finalized race formats, and the fact that currently the IOC doesn't want to add anything longer than 2 hours to the games for TV reasons.

My question is, what should be added? All 4 new events? Just a non-drafting 70.3 type event?

I think the more the better. For the two years triathlon has been in the Games it has been honestly the best head to head, battling for the medal, straight up race in the entire Olympics. I think we would see more of the same with any of these other possible events.

So, what should get in?
Jimmy Archer
Pro Triathlete/Coach/Freelance Writer
www.jimmyarcher.com

ga_fE_man

Jul 7, 08 12:16

Post #2 of 51 (1738 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [JTRock] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I would be surprised to see any other event added under an "umbrella" but I like the idea. My initial reaction would be to add a 70.3 event. IMO, that distance is slowly becoming the "standard" or so it seems...at least in the circles I travel. On the other hand, adding a full 140.6 would rival the pageantry of the Marathon and probably become a more popular spectator event.

Would be cool either way....and like you said...the current tri distance is an ideal TV time slot/competition distance.
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saltman

Jul 7, 08 12:48

Post #3 of 51 (1674 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [ga_fE_man] [In reply to]	Can't Post

The TV excuse is pathetic. They could easily have an IM and cut in and out of it all day, I think it would be a phenomenal Day 1 event! And in the age of the internet they could be covering the race online all day. I just think the organizers of games and WTC have such enormous egos that they will never get it done. I would love to see 140.6 in the games, but I think it has to be that distance for people to care. Its become a triathlon standard, much like the marathon is a running standard. Some modified version of long course in the Olympics I fear would be disastrous. I certainly wouldn't have as much interest, I can't really explain it. I just like the familiarity of the known distances. I like seeing times and being able to make sense of them and put them into perspective quickly.

I know some would argue it would take away from Kona, but I think Ironman would have more to gain than lose by becoming an Oly event. If not 140.6, I would certainly be all for 70.3 as well. I would love to see a non-draft legal race in the Olympics.

LazyEP

Jul 7, 08 13:00

Post #4 of 51 (1635 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [ga_fE_man] [In reply to]	Can't Post

If you look at what McDonald has said over the years, an Ironman-distance triathlon would NEVER be a part of the Olympic Games. The IOC medical commission issued a statement a few years ago questioning the soundness of such ultra-endurance events. Also, the broadcast window for Oly sports is 2 hours.

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BMAN

Jul 7, 08 13:06

Post #5 of 51 (1619 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [JTRock] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I think that having three would be great. Maybe four tops.

Olympic distance
70.3 distance
Team event over the Olympic distance
Xterra race

I think this would be great but I am not sure it will ever happen but it would be nice.
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saltman

Jul 7, 08 13:19

Post #6 of 51 (1591 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [LazyEP] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I just don't understand the broadcast window logic. I wonder how many people lost interest in the Federer/Nadal 5 hour 3 rain delay match? There have to sports that get virtually no air time anyway.

Trieatalot

Jul 7, 08 13:45

Post #7 of 51 (1508 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [LazyEP] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Wow, so Olympic marathoners are now breaking 2 hours??? Where have I been!

leggett24

Jul 7, 08 14:27

Post #8 of 51 (1418 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [JTRock] [In reply to]	Can't Post

A longer non drafting race would be good. 3/80/20 sounds great to me.

IMO the team thing is stupid.

trirunnah

Jul 7, 08 15:08

Post #9 of 51 (1375 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [leggett24] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I think a full ironman distance could actually work.
Out of all the tris that make it to TV Kona is the most popular. There's something about ironman that non-triathletes really get into. You can argue that it's Kona that magical but I think people could get just as into an Olympic ironman.
Running shows that people can get into long distance events. People actually do watch major marathons on TV and I'd argue that the Olympic marathon gets solid ratings compared to track events.

Jordan Jones
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Learn

Jul 7, 08 15:18

Post #10 of 51 (1357 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [JTRock] [In reply to]	Can't Post

The problem with team would be that it would distract athletes who compete in those events/distances from their main events.

And unlike the swimming and track events (where some athletes are already opting out of team performances to save themselves for individual events), the top tier marathoners/cyclist are not going to be up for doing that team event, so you get stuck with 2nd tier athletes for the team slots.

Anyway, I agree with making Iron an oly event - just not a team event.

Fleck

Jul 7, 08 15:24

Post #11 of 51 (1341 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [JTRock] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Jimmy,

You must have some very deep inside connections.

My guess is that there may be talk of this, but my other guess is that it will not go far. The IOC is the ultimate deceision maker here and one of the stipulations when the ITU first applied for program status was that they could not have events longer than the current marathon ie 2 hours of total race time - and interestlyly and ironically, the classic Olympic Distance tri does that( about 1:50 for the men and a bit of 2:00 for the women). It would seem that the IOC has little patience for multi hour events. Yes, I know there are a few that are longer than this on the program - The Bike Road races and the men's 50K race walk, but these are events that have been on the program for a long time - new events fall into a dfferent category.

Steve Fleck
steve@nineteenwetsuits.com
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http://stevefleck.blogspot.com

imsparticus

Jul 7, 08 15:24

Post #12 of 51 (1341 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [JTRock] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In repy to:
In a perfect world Triathlon would have 5 events in the Games; the current draft legal format, at team race made up of three person teams with each member racing 1/3 the total Olympic
_____________________________________________________

Why in the world would they do a relay? There is already a 1500 meter swim, a 10,000 meter run and some bike races.

show pony

Jul 7, 08 15:27

Post #13 of 51 (1335 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [JTRock] [In reply to]	Can't Post

"Ironman" as we know it will never be an Olympic sport.

For a sport to be included it needs to have a global governing body that is recognized by the IOC (think FINA, FIBA, UCI, etc). ITU is triathlon's official governing body and will they will not associate themselves with traditional IM or HIM distance racing (the WTC politics).

If anything, ITU sanctioned long-course (4/120/30, or is it 3/80/20 now? I can't keep up...) would be the only viable option, so don't hold your breath on IM/HIM in the Olympics. Ain't gonna happen...

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mcdoublee

Jul 7, 08 16:03

Post #14 of 51 (1299 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [imsparticus] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

In repy to:
In a perfect world Triathlon would have 5 events in the Games; the current draft legal format, at team race made up of three person teams with each member racing 1/3 the total Olympic
_____________________________________________________

Why in the world would they do a relay? There is already a 1500 meter swim, a 10,000 meter run and some bike races.

That's what I was thinking.

------------------------------------
MC Double E

pequa tri

Aug 18, 08 7:38

Post #15 of 51 (1095 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [mcdoublee] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I think a relay would be a good idea. I was just thinking about it the other day and then found this thread. I think a relay wouldn't be a true triathlon event, but who cares? It would give the sport great exposure with some big names. If Australia had a team of say Grant Hackett, Cadel Evens, and Craig Mottram or a US team of Larson Jensen, Levi Leipheimer, and Abdi or Rupp it might encourage more swimmers, bikers, and runners to be interested in the sport of triathlon.

Uncle Phil

Aug 18, 08 7:42

Post #16 of 51 (1068 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [imsparticus] [In reply to]	Can't Post

No. Each person would race a triathlon, then hand off to the next athlete. And why would they do it? Because there already is such an events at the ITU World Championships....

M~

Aug 18, 08 7:43

Post #17 of 51 (1062 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [In reply to]	Can't Post

All this talk about not having an event going over 2 hours seems like garbage and just an excuse.
Gymnastics goes on FOREVER. Ever watch a baseball game or curling? Those two alone are FAR more boring than anything the tri community puts out.
Hard to look at it objectively but I think they should have other events as well.
I wonder how many of the IM folks would make the crossover to the Olympics in lieu of Kona. I would think it would be tough to peak for both.

BIGZACH

Aug 18, 08 7:47

Post #18 of 51 (1039 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [JTRock] [In reply to]	Can't Post

If they are gonna add a longer "non drafting" triathlon it should be IM distance

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Herbert

Aug 18, 08 7:56

Post #19 of 51 (1009 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [JTRock] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I think an Off-Road triathlon and a longer course tri would be great, but I would seriously be surprised if it were to happen.

H

Ultra-tri-guy

Aug 18, 08 7:59

Post #20 of 51 (992 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [Herbert] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Off road tri,now you are talking!As for another road tri,I still say it will never happen.

.
Aussie Nick, back in Oz

Gandalf

Aug 18, 08 8:02

Post #21 of 51 (985 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [show pony] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Exactly. WTC is a profit making business and not a Sports Federation. I'm not sure that WTC would even want to have IM in the olympics since it would diminish the Kona World Championships and also likely cause calendar and qualification problems.

In light of this I'm surprised that ITU have abandoned the LD because if they got LD or Irondistance into the olympics then they could challenge WTC.

In my ideal world I would like to see the following in the olympics.

1. Sprint Distance 750m/20/5
2. Standard Distance 1.5/40/10
3. Middle distance 3/80/20 (non drafting)
4. Long Distance 4.5K/120/30
5. Standard Distance Individual Time Trial
6. Standard Distance Team (not relay). Teams of 4 with 3rd over the line to determine the time. Each team starts separately, 3 min intervals.

I don't get the relay idea at all since it is not triathlon and you would get individual specialist competing instead of triathletes.
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TriStrut

Aug 18, 08 8:02

Post #22 of 51 (982 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [M~] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

All this talk about not having an event going over 2 hours seems like garbage and just an excuse.
Gymnastics goes on FOREVER. Ever watch a baseball game or curling? Those two alone are FAR more boring than anything the tri community puts out.
Hard to look at it objectively but I think they should have other events as well.
I wonder how many of the IM folks would make the crossover to the Olympics in lieu of Kona. I would think it would be tough to peak for both.

You (and I) may find gymastics to be boring - but given the fact that it usually has some of the higher ratings out there, a lot of people feel differently.
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Khai

Aug 18, 08 8:04

Post #23 of 51 (964 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [JTRock] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Everyone goes on and on about adding IM to the Olympics, but it just ain't gonna happen.

IF "they" do decide to add more races, it would be cool to see a sprint, and possibly some sort of longer / Nice distance race.

Both non-draft legal (but keep the ITU format Oly because it's awesome).

The Sprint race would be an all-out balls to the wall race from wire to wire. I'd love to see what the ITU crew could pull off in a race that short.

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M~

Aug 18, 08 8:05

Post #24 of 51 (962 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [TriStrut] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I don't find gymnastics boring, but it does go on forever. So the whole 2 hours thing doesn't really fly if you incorporate the total time gymnastics takes to proclaim a winner into the equation. Those dudes on the rings are outstanding.
Baseball and curling though? YAWN

Sean O'Brien

Aug 18, 08 8:07

Post #25 of 51 (942 views)

Re: More Triathlon in the Olympics? [Khai] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'd like to see a winter tri added. ski, bike and snowshoe.

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