Sydney, 17 September 2000. Cycling event, Mark Marabini (ZIM). Credit: Getty Images/Jamie Squire

While taekwondo and triathlon both debuted as the newest Olympic sports at the Sydney 2000 Games, triathlon was literally the newest sport. Although the origins of taekwondo date back thousands of years, the triathlon dates back to 1978.

The first triathlon was held in the south-western United States city of San Diego in 1974, in many ways an outgrowth of the California jogging craze. The ultimate endurance test, it requires athletes to excel at three very different pursuits - swimming, cycling and running. The sport demands particularly intense discipline because each area requires a high-level training schedule.

Discipline's origin

Triathlon was invented in the early 1970s by the San Diego Track Club, as an alternative workout to the rigours of track training. The club's first event consisted of a 10km run, an 8km cycle and a 500 metre 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 1500 metre swim, a 40km cycle and a 10km run - taken from existing events in each discipline already on the Olympic programme. This standard distance is used for the ITU World Cup series and was also featured at the Sydney Olympic Games.

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

Olympic history

In 1994, at the International Olympic Committee's Congress in Paris, France, triathlon was awarded full medal status on the Olympic programme and triathlon made its debut at the 2000 Olympic Summer Games in Sydney, Australia. The women's event took place on the first day while the men competed on day two. Triathlon was one of the first medals awarded at the Sydney Olympics. Brigette McMahon (SUI) and Simon Whitfield (CAN) won triathlon's first Olympic gold medals.

Competition field

SWIMMING CONDUCT

Prior to the start of the competition athletes in the order of their current World Cup Ranking are asked to select their starting position. For those athletes who do not have a World Cup Ranking, ITU Points will be used after all those with a World Cup Ranking have selected.

The athletes upon entering the pontoon go directly to their selected numbered position and stay in that position until the start.

Start line Technical Officials note each athlete's race number and selected starting position.

Selection of start positions ends when every athlete is in a start position.

CYCLING CONDUCT

For all Age Group competitions in Sprint/Olympic Distance events the draft zone will be a rectangle 7 meters long by 3 meters wide. The center of the leading 3-meter edge will be measured from the leading edge of the front wheel. A competitor may enter the draft zone of another competitor, but must be seen to be progressing through that zone. A maximum of 15 seconds will be allowed to pass through the zone of another competitor;

Motorcycles are the only vehicles allowed on any section of the course.

All drivers, officials, media, and race personnel must wear a securely fastened certified motorcycle helmet at all times when on the motorcycle.

RUNNING CONDUCT

All competitors must have their helmet securely fastened from the time they remove their bicycle from the rack at the start of the cycle until after they have placed their bicycle on the rack at the finish of the cycle.

Competitors must ensure all unused personal equipment stays within their transition area and is not discarded on the field of play or left in the space of another competitor. If a bin is provided all unused equipment must be placed in the bin and not left on the ground.

Competitors must not impede the progress of other competitors in the Transition Area.

Equipment

Bicycle

Used in the cycling section of the sport.

Bike rack

The device that holds bicycles in an upright position in the transition area.

Botton bracket

A hole in the base of a bicycle frame where the axle unit is attached.

Chainring

A large toothed ring within the chainset of a bicycle that drives the chain via the pedals and cran