Digital magazines from the International Triathlon Union (ITU) and the World Triathlon Series
Issue link: http://worldtriathlon.uberflip.com/i/1392212
MIXED RELAY The Triathlon Mixed Relay format showcases racing at its most thrilling, with the individual sport combining with pure team spirit. After many years as a firm fixture on the World Triathlon calendar with multiple events, the Mixed Relay will make its official Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020. Four athletes - two male & two female - from the same National Federation will form the teams. Athletes must complete a super-sprint triathlon - 300m swim, 6.8km bike and 2km run - before tagging off to a teammate, always in the order female-male-female-male. Among the most exciting aspects of these races for spectators is the athletes' dramatic sprint and dive after being tagged by their teammate, as well as the intensity and speed from start to finish, the tight back- and-forth lead changes and team pride that this innovative racing format elicits. The very first World Triathlon Triathlon Team Mixed Relay World Championships was held in Des Moines, Iowa, USA in 2009 when the powerful Swiss team claimed the inaugural title. In 2013, the World Championships were hosted in the German city of Hamburg for the first time, where it has taken place annually ever since. The entertaining format was soon embraced around the world and was included in major Games programmes such as the Youth Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games until finally, in 2017, it was announced that Triathlon Mixed Relay would make its Olympic Games debut at Tokyo 2020. In 2019, the first ever Team Mixed Relay World Series saw four races take place - in Abu Dhabi, Nottingham, Hamburg and Edmonton. France has claimed the World Championships title in the last three years, and also went on to win gold at the Tokyo Test Event. 124 - World Triathlon Media Guide Tokyo 2020