I was just curious as to wheather being taller and heavier (not a clydesdale) than the average triahtlete is a “MAJOR” disadvantage. Would it be possible to be a contender in my age group regardless of height and weight? It would be interesting to know your height and weight and how that correlates to your placement in your age group during a competition. Do smaller triathletes have the advantage? I have heard about smaller and thinner cyclist and how they perform better climbing. Logic tells me it would be the same with triathlons. However, I also hear that taller swimmers have a slight advantage. What is your opinion?
I am 6’2" and about 178 lbs…45 years old…I snag some harware more often than not…
6’4" and 190 lbs 35-39 AG
I’m not in danger of ever displacing anyone from the podium… but it’s probably mostly because I’m a crappy runner, not because of weight. If I can ever dramatically improve that… watch out.
I’m 6’-6", 185 pounds on a good day, and placed twice so far in my AG. It’s usually an advantage on a windy day when on the bike. The main problem will always be the run.
Stefan
Being a “shorter” triathlete, I can say that it is a disadvantage in the swim and run, for sure. But on the bike, I feel that the height advantage of taller people is equalized. Distance/stroke of a good swimmer and stride length of a good efficient runner will always out-perform a similar efficiency of a shorter person.
But, on the bike, I can zoom zoom. Just from personal experience. My quads are huge, being on a shorter femur, I think I have good torque on climbs.
In the long run (no pun intended), I believe taller athletes still have more of an advantage in triathlons (and most other sports except Jockeys and Gymnastics) than short people.
Chris
6’2", 185lbs, have won age group and placed in 25-29, and 30-34.
6’2" and 165 race weight (170 right now). Placed in M50-54 in 5 of 7 races in 2004. Did better in more obscure events, of course.
6’4" and 210-220lbs - took second in M30 agegroup (11th of ~200 overall) and hope to maybe win a local race or two in the next years.
if i could only run … or swim …
6’2" and a skinny 165
have made Kona… you’re right about size and swimming. also it is somewhat helpful on the bike… the more powerful you are in bad conditions the better off you will be. sucks for the run though… always think of myself as skinny when i am out at a nightly road ride or at the pool… but show up on the trail and i am the biggest dude in the run group
Does taller and lighter count. At 6’2" and 160, some/many would consider me skinny. I have always been this way. I was always an age-group contender winning/placing in numerous events and qualified for IMH for 10 years in a row( only went 2X).
Fleck
6’3" and 193. Can’t be convinced of any bike advantage–it seems like the small pwerful guys w/short leg cranks have it over long limbs. The swim can probably be a wash small vs big. The run, however, is where us big guys, but not weighty, can cover some ground based on stride w/ power. I guess it comes down to who the fittest is, like everything else. Any tall pros to emulate?
6’0 160 and I suck… hard.
I have a friend who is 6-'/5"-ish and 185/195-ish and he podiums (usually #1 or 2) in every race. I am 6-1 and 155-160 and sometimes sneak in on running or swimming events, but nothing involving a bike.
As long as your not heavy, its not a disadvantage and likely helps in the swim. A guy in my AG 35-39 has won age group triathlete of the year for (I believe) 3 of the last 5 years and he’s 6’4’'.
He also held the Hawaii IM swim split record for a couple years across all age groups.
I don’t think it matters. Here is my take on the subject, feel free to shoot holes in it.
Many pro cyclists and triathletes are smaller in stature, and clearly many are very light in weight. Here are some reasons why.
Many Americans are subjected to the 3 mainstream sports at a young age, Football, Baseball, Basketball. All 3 of these sports have clear advantages to being larger in size. Athletes who are not very big (like myself 5’9" 145lbs.) but still very athletic are forced into the “secondary” sports, swimming, running, cycling, soccer, etc. I think the correlation of smaller sizes showing up on podiums the highest levels in these sports is a product of that.
What truly amazes me is the background of so many triathletes who have a sporting background devoid of swimming, cycling, or running. I notice many people here have rowing, XC skiing, and even weightlifting backgrounds. This shows me that hard work and proper training can get many people competitive in triathlon, regardless of size or background.
“I think the correlation of smaller sizes showing up on podiums the highest levels in these sports is a product of that.”
Definitely not in swimming (at least men’s). Few top ranked collegiate/olympic swimmers are <6’. If they are, there swimming breaststroke.
Chris
I agree, I think tall swimmers are clearly at an advantage, especially fly, and backstroke.
I’m 6’1", 175 LBS, 51 years old. I think if I put the time in I could get to the podium but I enjoy the training and racing in MOP. I was a competitive runner at 155 LBS and burned out at 30.
6’ 1/4", 173, 47 (next month). I either won my age group, won masters, or placed top 10 in each of the three triathlons and three duathlons (not counting my DQ…) I did last year. All were sprint distance races.
Does taller and lighter count. At 6’2" and 160, some/many would consider me skinny. I have always been this way. I was always an age-group contender winning/placing in numerous events and qualified for IMH for 10 years in a row( only went 2X).
Fleck
ditto…I hate the word skinny, I prefer lanky, slender, etc…
My placings are similar to Fleck’s and have only been to hawaii once, but still not as fast at imc:) Some day…