Triathlons are in a race against climate change

Racing weekends are getting impacted by extreme weather events

If you’ve ever had to deal with the stress of race as an athlete, imagine what it’s like for triathlon organisers having to manage their events with extreme weather events.

In 2018, the swim section of Ironman Hamburg had to be cancelled as algae had developed due to persistent sun and high water temperatures during the European summer heatwave.

Some races have been permanently cancelled due to extreme weather events. That’s the case of Ironman Santa Rosa, which occurred annually between 2012 and 2019 before forest fires devastated the region.

“The impact of climate change has been seen in our sport. Events are being cancelled and postponed or changed to duathlons. We are starting to see our sport being affected by climate change much more rapidly than we ever thought.”

Eve Joseph, Head of Social Impact at British Triathlon

Facing environmental risks, some race organisers are deciding to insure themselves against potential lost revenues due to weather-induced race cancellations. This can lead to more expensive races for athletes when the costs are passed down to them.

There is also a duty to protect the health of athletes and minimise the medical risks they are exposed to, especially as they are likely to compete in increasingly warmer temperatures.

Water quality concerns in the international spotlight

Of all the environmental risks that could lead to cancellations or changes to a triathlon, water quality has been the most recently discussed with the Olympics approaching.

For the swim section of the triathlon at the Paris 2024 Olympics, triathletes are expected to battle for 1.5 kilometres in the Seine.

However, there are some concerns about the quality of the water and the organiser's ability to ensure the athletes’ safety.

Water samplings by the Surfrider Foundation near the Pont Alexandre III, where the triathlon is scheduled to start, revealed alarming levels of bacteria such as E. coli in the river.

Heavy rain, which can overwhelm water treatment facilities, could lead to a severe deterioration of the water quality and cause delays to the race or a cancellation of the swim section.

“I’ve experienced firsthand the effect of climate change on the sport. This has included changes to events due to unclean water and freak weather caused by the changing climate. As participants of the sport, we have a duty to protect our natural environment and use our voices as athletes to communicate with fans to support our collaborative efforts.”

Tom Bishop, elite British triathlete

For training purposes in Paris, Team GB will take medical-grade precautions to disinfect athletes coming out of the water and adapt their diets with probiotics.

Such events highlight water quality issues, the exposure of racing events to environmental risks, and the need for triathlon organisers to protect the health of athletes.

British Triathlon is taking climate action

British Triathlon is the national governing body and triathlon federation in England, Scotland, and Wales. In 2023, it embarked on a new long-distance race.

The organisation launched Endurance 2040+, a new environmental sustainability strategy to reduce its emissions by 50% by 2030 and reach Net Zero by 2040. This follows the 2022 signature of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework by British Triathlon.

Reaching these objectives will require collaborating with suppliers, as the procurement of goods and services represents nearly 63% of the organisation’s emissions.

“At the heart of our strategy is a more sustainable future for triathlon: swimming in cleaner water, breathing cleaner air in a healthier environment, and taking action which will have positive benefits for everyone.”

Ben Cummings, British Triathlon Director of Partnerships

As part of its strategy, British Triathlon is also committing to providing sustainability education guidance to clubs, coaches, and athletes. This includes sustainable event playbooks.

Race organisers can start by implementing effective waste management practices for recycling at their events and establishing rules to penalise athletes for littering.

As athletes, we have a major role to play in reducing triathlon’s emissions. We can select races we can access by train or public transportation and favour second-hand material.

As a discipline, triathlon is heavily reliant on the natural environment. To ensure its prosperity, we must protect and restore the water, land, and air on which we depend to surpass ourselves.