Why isn’t the Ironman distance included in the Olympics?
The differences between short course, draft legal, racing and the Ironman are enough to warrant a second event at the Olympic level.
This would allow some of triathlon’s greatest athletes to be “Olympians”. It would show respect for the history of the sport, and for the fact that, while the Ironman distance rewards different attributes in one’s physicality, psychology and preparation, they are (at least) equal in importance and prestige to those required for short course racing.
Furthermore, I can think of no other sport that embodies the spirit of the Olympics more than Ironman racing. Having short course/draft legal racing in the Olympics, without Ironman is like having the 10k and no marathon. It is like if boxing decided to cut out the heavyweight category.
Your analogies are a bit off. In boxing, the heavyweight division in the premier division. It’s the one everyone cares about. In triathlon that just isn’t true about “Ironman” distance. All the big money, most of the big spectator races are all draft legal ITU races. Yes, “Ironman” races (some at least) get a good amount of local people out in the streets cheering, but the ITU races can get stands filled up with people. It’s very nature is more spectator friendly.
I don’t disagree it would be cool to see an “Ironman” distance Olympic race, I just understand why they did Olympic distance first.
because it’s boring as hell, for a start, and TV rules the modern olympics.
when triathlon was lobbying to get into the olympics, IOC had a few rules (that i remember off the top of my head):
-whatever format they used, it couldn’t last longer than the longest athletics event, ie, the marathon. (call it ~2 hours)
-whoever crossed the line first was the winner
-had to be friendly for live and tv audiences
ironman doesn’t hit any of those categories, so it’s a stretch, at best. more importantly, though, is the political gongshow surrounding WTC/ITU/IOC/Ironman . . . way too many agendas/egos/attitudes at that table and i just can’t imagine all the brass seeing eye to eye on this.
things change.
i don’t think the heavyweights are the marquee they used to be.
i am sure that fans of manny pacquiao (and the whole country of the philippines wouldn’t agree that heavyweight fighting is the premier divisions any more)
the thing about ITU racing is you could tune in for the last 5 minutes of the run and that is the whole race.
that is not really true with ironman.
and ironman races are getting pretty exciting these days as fields get more competitive.
I see your new here. Welcome. Please stick around.
First a question: Your world seems to be revolving around the Ironman distance. May I ask why that is?
Second - some history:
When the sport of triathlon of triathlon was lobbying and campaigning to get into the Olympic games, it was given a few ultimatums by the IOC.
That any new event to the Olympic games should not be longer than about 2 hours.
That this new sport of triathlon needed to clean up it’s act and make sure that somehow the person across the line first was the winner.
That it would be helpful if the constituent parts of the triathlon were already Olympic events - the 1500m swim, the 40K bike TT and the 10K run. Hence, the “Olympic” Distance triathlon.
It’s important to know that the ITU is the governing body for the sport of triathlon world-wide and that the Ironman is a trademark race name owned by the privately owned event and marketing company called the WTC
Also it’s helpful to know that the ITU and the WTC, have been at each others throats for a long time. The divisions and disagreements go back a long time in the sport, have spilled over into law-suits.
It’s safe to say that given all the above, the Ironman distance race will never be in the Olympic Games.
Some reasons - The IOC …
…is not looking to add more sports
…does not like long multi hour events. (At ~2hrs the triathon is one of the longer events)
…wants spectator friendly sports - good for TV - more money for the IOC
I doubt that either the marathon or the 50km ski would be added today if they were new sports.
answer to your question: i training for an ironman! it has been a lifelong dream.
i do have a fascination with that distance. why? i guess i am a victim of more than 20 years of TV broadcasting and inspirational stories that centre around the mistique of Kona and the ironman distance.
on some level, i guess i buy into the idea that there is a something special about people testing themselves at that distance. i don’t think it would be as inspiring at half or a quarter of the distance. i mean if john blaze had have done an olympic distance event somewhere and not kona, would that have raised the same awareness? would it have inspired as many people?
i think it is awful that it has become a trademark.
i suppose that one could argue that the WTC makes use of human struggle stories to create an ideology around the distance. they probably do.
i mean how many stories can we hear about cancer survivors doing ironman??? it seems for now, people are responding to that, and it motivates them.
and i am one of those cancers survivors, copying those before me, doing ironman. so i guess i am fascinated with the why within myself.
i am aware of SOME of the history, you have mentioned.
i don’t expect that ironman ever will be in the olympics. but i think it should.
The ITU is lobbying the IOC for the inclusion of a sprint team relay - 2 men + 2 women, all do a short s/b/r before tagging the next team member. I watched the highlights of the World Champs for this - it was fast, furious, chaotic and fun to watch - especially some of the comedy transitions
Why?
ITU style puts equal emphasis on all 3 (4 if you include transition) legs of triathlon. Can’t swim / never make the bike pack. Can’t Bike / you will get dropped in a hurry, Can’t run / as with every triathlon regardless of distance you will get passed.
It could be done, but do the athletes really want it?
Olympic coverage does not constantly stay on the marathon, they skip to shorter events and just show key parts of the race. The same can be done with IM.
The problem is, suddenly you put in the premier event for the sport, that athletes would have to train for, and if they win, there is zero guarantee of any revenue out of it. This is a big deal when even the top athletes struggle to make ends meet. So instead of ramping up for Kona, a triathlete could put their major training block for the Olympics, but if they win, revenue is at the mercy of endorsements from that win, which is no guarantee.
