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There were only 46 racers in the first triathlon ever run, in 1974. Today, there are several hundred thousand registered triathletes, just in the major organizations, and thousands more join the sport each year. In order to manage the judging in a fair manner, it was necessary to start pitting competitors against others with the same potential for excellence. This involved classifying racers by age, gender, size and sometimes other factors, such as demonstrated proficiency. There were only 46 racers in the first triathlon ever run, in 1974. Today, there are several hundred thousand registered triathletes, just in the major organizations, and thousands more join the sport each year. In order to manage the judging in a fair manner, it was necessary to start pitting competitors against others with the same potential for excellence. This involved classifying racers by age, gender, size and sometimes other factors, such as demonstrated proficiency. A 19 y/o male and 19 y/o female, running alongside each other, aren’t evenly matched, any more than that 19 y/o female would be against another female of 55 years of age. Perhaps you’re jumping up and down, hollering “That’s not TRUE! I’m 55 y/o and I beat a LOT of young girls!” Congratulations! But guess what? That just means that you’re better prepared and/or more driven. The point is, if you beat them, you probably beat some young men, too. Don’t you think you could really kick some butt against someone with the same potential? How about a ParaTriathlon competitor that’s confined to a wheelchair? Should he be judged for how well he does against those healthy and whole young girls? Of course not! The idea is to match competitors as evenly as possible, so that everyone has an equal opportunity to capitalize on their training and drive to come out on top. So… that said, let’s look at the reasoning behind some of the classes. Why the age classification? There are a number of aspects of age difference that make this necessary. With the same general health and conditioning, a 55 y/o man simply won’t have the same stamina as a 20 y/o counterpart. Metabolism, skeletal issues and hormone levels will give the younger man an edge. The same holds true for a mature woman, compared to a young girl. Why can’t women and men compete against each other? There are certainly some women out there that can give any man a run for his money. But that is in spite of the additional challenges a female athlete faces, in comparison to a man, under similar pre-conditions. Men and women have very different limitations, in terms of bone structure, musculature , hormonal makeup and even metabolism. It isn’t realistic to believe that both sexes share a common starting point in their training. What are the different age groups? Most sponsors use a 4 year grouping, such as 20 – 24, 25 – 29, 30 – 34 and so on. Some sponsors also have a class for 16 or 18 + below, and most have a class for either 65 + above or 70 + above. The age reached during a given year determines the age group in which an athlete will be competing in any race that year. Points earned during the year will apply to that year’s ranking. Should size be a factor? Doesn’t it stand to reason that a 220 lb. man will have to exert more energy to propel himself through any leg of the race than a 120 lb. co-competitor? While he may be packing more muscle, he’s also packing more weight and resistance. That’s why most sponsors have incorporated the Clydesdale (men, 220 lbs+) and Athena (women, 150 lbs+) divisions. Pro and Elite – what are these? Pro and Elite divisions are set up for competitors that have demonstrated sufficient proficiency to have placed highly in numerous events. That qualifies them to apply for Pro or Elite status and purchase such a membership in the sponsoring organization. The reasoning is that less experienced/successful athletes shouldn’t have to compete against those that are much more likely to dominate the event. It just levels the playing field somewhat. Athletes that purchase a Pro or Elite membership will only be able to compete within that division for the entire year, and will only be eligible to win the prizes specified for that division. Does my group really matter? Aside from the fact that the number of competitors in your group may vary, there is no real effect for you. However, some groups contain significantly higher numbers than others. As you might expect, there isn’t a tremendous disparity, based upon gender alone, as triathlons have become popular for both men and women athletes. There are, however more significant differences in group sizes, based upon age and size. The USA Triathlon group recently released the following demographic data to give a snapshot of where triathletes come from. The largest slice of their competitors fit one or more of these criteria: married; white; male; 35-39 years old; earning $100-$150K; in a white collar job; compete in sprint-length events. Conversely, the smallest cross-section was one or more of: single; African-American; women; 65 + years old; earning $300K; single, blue-collar or student; compete in Ironman events. As you might imagine, if you’re a 65 + y/o woman, you’re very likely to be facing fewer competitors than a 36 y/o man. However, all groups are increasing in size every year, more or less proportionally, with the exception of the 65+ and 70+ groups, which are seeing a higher growth rate. Some final points As the number of competitors increases over time, it could eventually be necessary to narrow the age groups to 3, 2 or even 1 year groupings. The same may be true of the size grouping - three or more groups may someday be needed. The intent of the groups and divisions is to separate athletes into groups of similar potential, so that training, conditioning and drive become the deciding factor in a racer’s placement. Triathlons continue to grow in popularity and have already spread worldwide. A full one million competitors may race in triathlons around the world next year, which is pretty awesome, compared to only 46 in 1974. Competing in such a demanding sport can give one a feeling of self-confidence and pride that only comes with pushing oneself to the limits and beyond. But then, you probably already knew that. Resources: Wetsuit Outlet is the best pace on earth to buy triathlon wetsuits. We carry wetsuits and swim skins designed for triathletes, competitive racers and anyone that wants the best wetsuit you can wear.
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