Triathlon was invented in the early 1970s by the San Diego Track club, as an alternative workout to the rigors of track training. The club's first event consisted of a 10km run, an 8km cycle and a 500metre swim.

    Over the next decade, triathlon grew by leaps and bounds and soon gained recognition throughout the world. In 1989, the International Triathlon Union (ITU) was founded in Avignon, France and the first official world championships were held. The official distance for triathlon was set at a 1500metre swim, a 40km cycle and a 10km run - taking from existing events in each discipline already on the Olympic programme. This standard distance is used for the ITU World Cup series and will also be featured at the Olympic Games.

    Since 1989, the sport has grown rapidly and now has over a hundred affiliated national federations around the world.

    In 1994, at the IOC Congress in Paris, France, triathlon was awarded full medal status on the Olympic programme and will make it1s debut at the 2000 summer games in Sydney, Australia. The women's event will take place on the first day with the men competing on day two. Triathlon has the honour of being one of the first medals awarded at the Sydney Olympics.