Triathlon: everything in one place

Triathlon combines three endurance disciplines — swimming, then cycling, then running — completed back-to-back in a single event. The changeovers between each leg, known as transitions, are part of the challenge, so a triathlon tests all-round fitness rather than a single skill.

It is offered across a range of distances, from short, beginner-friendly events to long-course races, which lets newcomers start small and build up. Training across three sports also keeps the routine varied and spreads the load, so no single part of the body takes all the strain.