For those unfamiliar with the different triathlon distances, the word ‘Olympic’ might conjure up thoughts of professional athletes and rigorous training schedules, however, the Olympic triathlon is actually considered to be the ‘standard’ distance for a triathlon.

As is the case with all of the recognised triathlon distances, events are divided into age groups. This means that you will be competing alongside other triathletes who fall into the same band for age and sex as you, with the exception of triathletes who fall into the separate elite category.
If you’ve already started getting to grips with triathlons, an Olympic distance race is the ideal next challenge after completing a sprint, with all of the distances for the swimming, cycling and running legs of the race essentially doubled for the Olympic distance.
How far do you need to swim, cycle and run in an Olympic triathlon?
With the Olympic triathlon distance being double that of a sprint, a tougher training plan will be required to increase your fitness level and endurance so you can complete the swim, bike ride and run. Here are the distances you’ll need to cover:
- Swimming – 1.5km (0.9 miles)
- Cycling – 40km (24.8 miles)
- Running – 10k (6.2 miles)
As we’ve mentioned, for those who have completed a sprint triathlon already, the Olympic triathlon is probably going to be your next challenge. It’s by no means an easy race and you may face competition from triathletes who are working their way up to an Ironman or half Ironman race, so don’t feel discouraged if you can’t keep up with everyone on race day! You’re sure to feel a great sense of accomplishment once you’ve crossed the finish line regardless of your time.