Okay, given the huge pools of talent that distance running, cycling and swimming have to draw from, why hasn’t a star from one of these sports successfully crossed over to triathlon to dominate?
Is it because some of the qualities that make (for instance) a great runner, make for a bad cyclist?
Is it because there isn’t enough financial incentive?
I think it’s the latter. If they are already really good at one of the other 3 sports, they make more dough there than the best triathletes.
It’s all about math;
If X=1 and Y=3, then X does not equal Y
On the ohter hand ;Y divided by X = X+X+X X = Lance
.
I thought I had! 
Well Monty was a college swimmer/lifeguard who moved over to triathlon when it was invented. Dave Scott was a swimmer waterpolo player,swim coach, the whole Henshaw family were big time swimmers, jan Ripple was a big time swimmer, Julie Leach was an Olympic kayaker, Ruben Chappens ran at UCLA, our founder Dan E. was know to run a few laps in the old days . I think there are tons of single sport stars in the triathlon. If you are asking why Barry Bonds, Reggie Bush, Lance Armstrong are not their, follow the money. Mid level cyclists probably make as much as the top tier triathletes. the 150th best golfer probably makes more than any triathlete. Michelle W has made $20 million and hasn’t won a thing since she turned pro. Triathlon isn’t quite in the big time yet. heck the World Series of Poker pays way better than the triathlon, and the Rock Scissors Paper Champion won more than the Ironman this year.
“and the Rock Scissors Paper Champion won more than the Ironman this year.” great post…except this might be wrong (I watched it the other day), that guy won 50,000 and I though hawaii paid 100,000?
KP
I would assume the OP means currently, not people who dominated in the old days.
cos it’s not a single sport
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“Is it because there isn’t enough financial incentive?”
That would be my guess. Certainly the top cyclists and runners make far more in those sports than they would in triathlon. Haven’t some of the top short course people come from swimming? Andy Potts maybe? Steve Larsen seemed to do fairly well while he raced as a pro. Perhaps by the time a top single sport star comes to triathlon they are past their prime.
Just look at the guys winning ITU races… Most have been relative stars in single sports. And if you mean actual single sport stars (like the best), then what would be the reason for them to do triathlons when they are the best at their sport?
I think Hamish Carter DID dominate.
Sure he was primarily ITU, which isn’t really in favour here on ST, but he was consistently ranked #1 in the world (I think for 3 years running) He won heaps of races over many years, raced often and even as a very old man, won Olympic Gold. He was even Xterra world champion in his last year of racing. (People like Simon Lessing for example, raced so rarely that they didn’t get their due press, even though Simon won a large percentage of his races)
I think Hamish wasn’t at the front of everyone’s mind because A) he raced ITU, and B) he’s a pretty quiet unassuming guy, rather than a rampant self promoter and C) he’s a Kiwi, out of the mainstream American and European centred reporting.
His coach stated many times he was ideally built for IM distance, but many times Hamish countered that he just couldn’t comprehend suffering for that long! (my paraphrasing)
And to think that all Hamish wanted to do was be a Cricketer!
You mean someone like Barb Lindquist?
because triathlon is 3 sports. not 1.
What single sport did Hamish Carter star in before turning his hand to triathlon?
Didnt Mark Allen dominate the sport, What about Chris McCormac… he has won short and long… So too Greg Welch…
Also - why should a sport be dominated by a single athlete?
Maybe you are asking why aren’t there any super star celebrity triathletes, the answer to this is: 1 - not much of the public watch triathlons on Tv, as they do baseball etc, 2 - triathles have boring personalities.
Money, all been said
Motivation: you would have to motivate yourself to work very hard and learn. Not easy.
Danger of the challenge: what about you get your a$$ kicked? Not comfortable. Notice that Jalabert, in spite of his remarquable debut, has spent a lot of time to emphasise it was not a new career and he was doing it just for fun ,as an age grouper. No pressure.
Age: to be at the top of one sport, it’s likely that you will have passed your best for another sport. Not always true (e.g. gymnastics), but probable for a cyclist and runner
What about the reverse? Have you seen a top triathlete retiring and shinning in another sport? Money would be a good incentive, so why aren’t they doing it?
top triathlete retiring and shinning in another sport
You mean like Lance Armstrong?
He switched before being a real great. He showed all the potential, but did not really reached the top. We are talking about ITU winners, World cup, Olympics, IM.
top triathlete retiring and shinning in another sport
You mean like Lance Armstrong?
Quite simply, there is a transition period that an athlete needs to go through when switching sports. By the time an athlete reaches maturity and can dominate one sport, it is too late in most cases to switch to another sport and reach maturity in that sport.
Triathlon is a different sport than swimming, cycling, or running. The things that make one a great swimmer do not usually make one a great cyclist or runner.
Granted, there haven’t been a lot of them but your question was hasn’t a star done it, ie one.
Not sure how you define star and dominate but I have 1 name that defines both: Sheila Taormina.
Starred(Olympics) in swimming.
Dominated(Olympics, many major tri wins) in triathlon.