What Makes a Country Good at triathlon?
I will be focusing on the success of the British team and how it was achieved. It is no secret that
the British triathlon is a real powerhouse when it comes to top-level triathlon competitions. I am
taking a deep look at how they do it, and then I am taking a look at what the other successful tri-
nation countries do, like France, Norway, and the USA. By the end, I will have identified key
factors that go into that medal-winning formula.
To What Extent Does Britain’s Dominance Extend?
The GB triathlon team has won an impressive eight olympic gold medals, with the next best
country being the USA, which has four. Alongside this massive Olympic success this year
alone, Britain had the highest-ranked female triathlete and the third-highest-ranked male
triathlete. It is safe to say that Britain is truly amazing at triathlon. In the rest of the article, I am
going to explain what contributes to their success.
The Performance System
What the Youngsters Do
It is no secret that a country that nurtures talent is crucial for a nation’s success, and Britain
does it better than anyone else. At the age of ten, young athletes from each region of the UK
are selected to compete in a series of events that involve people from all over the country. This
offers all involved an opportunity to prepare for, experience, and cope with big events. This
stage is part of the life of top athletes from when they are ten to fourteen years old. I believe this
is a crucial component of the winning formula.
The Performance Pathway
The next stage for youngsters involves intensive selection events. There are numerous
performance academies across the UK. When athletes are 14 years old, they must achieve a
certain set of swim and run times. In addition, when these times are met, there is a trial day. It
tests the athletes; open-water swimming abilities and all aspects of their cycling abilities. Only
the best get in.
Once the athletes are accepted, there are one-on-one Zoom calls scheduled regularly to
oversee the training of each athlete. Throughout each winter, camps are dotted around the
calendar. On camp, athletes are taught about all aspects of training and nutrition, which will
allow optimal continued development throughout the year. They are taught how to stay mentally
strong as well as learning about how to best recover.
Another key component is competition. In the summer, all the different regional academies
compete together in the British Super Series. I believe that this is crucial for the race abilities of
the athletes.
This process sounds tough, but the athletes stay supported, and the potential for growth this
programme brings to a youngster is considerable.
The Goal of the Performance Pathway
British triathlons are not shy about their goals. They openly state that they will win Olympic
golds, and they don’t disappoint when it comes to the big moments. On the British triathlon
website, they have all the specific details if you are curious.
The Culture of Triathlon in Great Britain
Ever since the public watched the Brownlee brothers win medals in the 2012 Olympic Games, it
has been nothing but up from there. In the UK, triathlon went from being quite a niche sport to
being something that loads of people were giving a go to. I think culture is a key part of the
winning formula.
Do the Other Successful Nations Do the Same Thing?
When I talk about other successful triathlon nationals, I am talking about France, the USA, and
Norway. They are all rich countries, which means that they can afford the support networks and
talent development academies that are such a key part of the success of the GB team. Each of
these countries has some form of academy, which explains why there is such success among
the athletes there. Norway has become a big part of top level triathlon after they decided to
utilize technology to win. This drive for new ways to win is definitely a key part of the winning
formula.
Conclusion
On the whole, British triathlon has doubled down on every aspect of youth development and
triathlon, which has led to unrivaled dominance. Whether it is their performance pathway or the
culture and desire to win, their success comes from a combination of factors. Other nations, like
Norway, are catching up, and the future of competitive triathlon is very exciting.
