This July, LA 2028 unveiled the first look at its Olympic competition schedule. For the first time since the sport’s debut in Sydney in 2000, triathlon will be contested on the opening day of the Games, with the men’s and women’s races unfolding off Venice Beach and marking the eighth edition of Olympic triathlon.
A Look Back
When it comes to Canadian triathlon, one name always comes up: Simon Whitfield. He became the first triathlete to win an Olympic gold medal when the sport debuted at the 2000 Games in Sydney, and he later added a silver medal at Beijing 2008.
Whitfield’s Sydney performance remains one of the most iconic moments in Olympic triathlon history. With roughly 6km left on the bike, he was caught in a crash involving 14 riders. He rolled into transition on a damaged bike in 26th place – then delivered one of the greatest runs the sport has ever seen. Over the final 10km, he surged through the field, moving from 26th to the front. With 200m to go on Macquarie Street, he out-sprinted the German athlete to claim gold, becoming an overnight Canadian hero.
Since that unforgettable debut, triathlon has evolved tremendously, and it’s hard to imagine that just 25 years ago, the sport wasn’t even part of the Olympic program.
Olympic Triathlon Through the Years
Across the sport’s history, Great Britain leads all nations with nine of the 42 Olympic triathlon medals awarded to date. Seven athletes have earned two Olympic triathlon medals, yet only one has won the event twice: Great Britain’s Alistair Brownlee, in 2012 and 2016.
Below is a look at the athletes who have topped the Olympic podium:
Some of the most memorable moments in the sport have unfolded on this stage. At the 2012 Games, Nicola Spirig and Lisa Norden crossed the finish line with an identical time of 1:59:48 – the closest finish in Olympic triathlon history. After a photo review, Spirig was awarded gold by mere centimetres.
At the 2024 games, Cassandre Beaugrand not only won gold but also ran the fastest 10km ever recorded in Olympic triathlon: 32:49. On the men’s side, Alistair Brownlee’s blistering 29:07 run from London 2012 remains unmatched.
Together, these performances illustrate just how far Olympic triathlon has come – and how much faster it continues to get.
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