What do you get when the Tour de France concludes just a week before the Summer Olympics? A special issue of NYX News devoted to these two incredible events! We’ve got a whole lot of info for you, so the TL;DR version is provided first.
olympics preview & tour de france recap: TL;DR
Triathlon & the Olympics (read more)
The San Diego Track Club invented the triathlon in the early 1970s as an alternative to traditional track training. The first official triathlon event, featuring a unique combination of running, cycling, and swimming, was held in 1974. The 103rd International Olympic Committee Session in Paris approved triathlon’s Olympic status on September 4, 1994. This decision came just five years after the ITU was founded, making triathlon one of the fastest sports to achieve Olympic recognition. Triathlon made its official Olympic debut at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. The event featured separate men’s and women’s individual races, with 48 women and 52 men competing. In 2021, at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a mixed-team relay event was introduced, adding another exciting dimension to the Olympic triathlon.
How to Watch the Triathlon Events and Who to Watch (read more)
The triathlon events are on July 30th (Men’s) and 31st (Women’s) and August 5th (Mixed Relay). They are in the middle of the night, so your best bet is to watch the replay on NBC’s Peacock or Olympics apps. USA’s Morgan Pearson and Taylor Knibb will be battling strong and deep fields in their quests for a medal. Triathlete.com has overviews of both the men’s and women’s top contenders.
Coach Picks for Can’t-Miss Non-Tri Events (read more)
Coach Alison: Women’s Time Trial (Cycling) on July 27th and Women’s 3000m Steeplechase (Track & Field) on August 4th & 6th
Coach Julie: Women’s 400m Freestyle (Swimming) on July 27th and Womens’ 100m (Track & Field) on August 2nd & 3rd
Coach Shana: Women’s Heptathlon (Track & Field): August 8th & 9th and Men’s & Women’s Basketball starting July 28th (Men) and July 29th (Women)
Coach Julie’s Tour de France Recap (read more)
This year’s Tour was nothing short of extraordinary, showcasing the very best of endurance, resilience, and sporting greatness. Tadej Pogačar left spectators breathless as he conquered mountain after mountain, building an unbeatable lead, and Jonas Vingegaard had a heart-wrenching comeback after a horrific crash in April. Mark Cavendish surpassed the legendary Eddy Merckx with his 35th stage win, and Biniam Girmay became the first Black African cyclist to win the green jersey, inspiring a whole new generation of riders.
triathlon & the olympics
The Olympics offers a global platform for triathlon, showcasing the sport against the backdrop of iconic Parisian landmarks. Such high-profile exposure is expected to attract new participants and increase interest in triathlon at both recreational and competitive levels.
Triathlon’s journey to becoming an Olympic sport is an interesting one. Here’s a brief overview of its path to the Olympics:
Early Development
The San Diego Track Club invented the triathlon in the early 1970s as an alternative to traditional track training. The first official triathlon event, featuring a unique combination of running, cycling, and swimming, was held in 1974.
Growing Popularity and Olympic Recognition
Throughout the 1980s, triathlon’s popularity grew rapidly. In 1989, a significant milestone was reached with the International Triathlon Union (ITU) founding in Avignon, France. This same year also saw the first world championships being held.
Olympic Debut
The 103rd International Olympic Committee Session in Paris approved triathlon’s Olympic status on September 4, 1994. This decision came just five years after the ITU was founded, making triathlon one of the fastest sports to achieve Olympic recognition.
Triathlon made its official Olympic debut at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. The event featured separate men’s and women’s individual races, with 48 women and 52 men competing.
Olympic Format
The Olympic triathlon consists of a 1.5km swim, 40km bike ride, and 10km run, often called the “Olympic distance” or “standard distance”. This format has remained consistent since the sport’s Olympic introduction.
Recent Developments
In 2021, at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a mixed-team relay event was introduced, adding another exciting dimension to the Olympic triathlon.
Triathlon’s inclusion in the Olympics has significantly boosted its global profile and encouraged rapid growth in participation. It continues to be a popular and evolving sport in the Olympic program, with the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics set to showcase both individual and mixed relay events.
how to watch the triathlon events
There are three triathlon events in the Paris 2024 Olympics on three separate days:
- the Men’s Triathlon is on Tuesday, July 30th at 8am in Paris (2am ET / 11pm PT on July 29th)
- the Women’s Triathlon is on Wednesday, July 31st at 8am in Paris (2am ET / 11pm PT on July 30th)
- the Triathlon Mixed Relay is on Monday, August 5th at 8am in Paris (2am ET / 11pm PT on August 4th)
Since us triathletes love our sleep, and therefore you are unlikely to watch the events live, here is how you can watch them after the fact:
- Tape-delayed (and live, if you are in fact a night owl) coverage of the triathlon events will be shown on NBC and/or USA Network; the NBC Olympics Schedule page provides detail on their broadcast schedule
- NBC’s Peacock app will also provide streaming coverage of the triathlon events (and all of the rest of the Olympics events)
- If you subscribe to a tv service that includes NBC, you also have access to watch the events on NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC app, or the NBC Olympics app
what to watch for in the triathlon events
Men’s Triathlon
USA’s Morgan Pearson is a top contender but will be up against strong competition, including Alex Yee and Hayden Wilde. Triathlete.com has an overview of the top contenders in men’s triathlon here.
Women’s Triathlon
There are at least half a dozen legit top contenders in this race, including USA’s Taylor Knibb. Triathlete.come has an overview of the top contenders in women’s triathlon here.
Mixed Relay
USA, France, and Great Britain all have strong talent on both the men’s and women’s side, so look for a heated battle as USA looks to repeat their podium performance of 2021.
coach picks for can't-miss non-tri events
Coach Alison:
Women’s Time Trial (Cycling) : July 27th
While she’s probably not in medal contention, I just love the fact that Taylor Knibb (yes, the same Taylor Knibb who is in medal contention in Women’s Triathlon), won the USA Time Trial Olympic Trials and earned a spot in this second discipline.
Women’s 3000m Steeplechase (Track & Field) : August 4th & 6th
With prior medalists Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs both out due to injury, the door opened for new faces in the 3000m Steeplechase. With that opportunity at hand, the top nine women ran career-best times in the Olympic Trials, several by 9-15 seconds. All three women who made the team – Val Constein, Courtney Wayment, and Marisa Howard – broke Emma Coburn’s Trials record from 2021 and could be in contention for a medal in Paris.
Coach Julie:
Women’s 400m (Swimming)
The Women’s 400m freestyle is shaping up to be one of the most electrifying events in swimming, featuring a thrilling three-way rivalry between Katie Ledecky (US), Ariarne Titmus (AUS), and Summer McIntosh (CA).
- Clash of Titans: These three swimmers are among the best in the world, each with their own impressive accolades and records.
- Generational Battle: The race represents a clash between established champions and rising stars. Ledecky (26) and Titmus (22) are facing off against the teenage sensation McIntosh (16), showcasing the sport’s past, present, and future.
- Record-Breaking Potential: All three swimmers have been pushing the boundaries of the event, making it likely that we could see a new world record.
- Contrasting Styles: Each swimmer brings a unique approach to the race, from Ledecky’s relentless pace to Titmus’s strong finish and McIntosh’s emerging tactics.
Women’s 100m (Track & Field) : August 2nd & 3rd
The Women’s 100m in Paris promises to be a showcase of speed, power, and competitive spirit at the highest level. With so many potential winners and the prestige associated with this event, it’s guaranteed to be one of the most thrilling moments of the 2024 Olympics. Fierce Competition: The women’s 100m field is incredibly deep, with multiple athletes capable of taking gold.
- Sha’Carri Richardson (USA): After missing out on Tokyo, Richardson will be hungry to prove herself on the Olympic stage. Her showmanship alone is worth the watch
- Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica): The veteran sprinter and multiple Olympic gold medalist is still a force to be reckoned with, despite her age.
- Elaine Thompson-Herah (Jamaica): The defending Olympic champion from Tokyo 2020 will be looking to retain her title.
Who will be the fastest woman in the world?
Coach Shana:
Women’s Heptathlon (Track & Field): August 8th & 9th
The Heptathlon is my newest watch interest, and USA’s Anna Hall is a medal contender. Heptathlon is a 2 day event: DAY 1 is 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200m, DAY 2 is long jump, Javelin, and 800m. Competition kicks off Aug 8-9. The men will be competing in Decathlon Aug 2-3.
Men’s & Women’s Basketball : July 27th – August 11th
I’ll also be following both Men and Women’s Basketball: USA men’s first game is July 28 and the USA women on July 29. I played this sport growing up and enjoy watching the skill and strategy unfold on court!
coach julie's tour de france recap
Did you catch the 2024 Tour de France? If not, you missed an epic ride! This year’s Tour was nothing short of extraordinary, showcasing the very best of endurance, resilience, and sporting greatness. The star of the show? Tadej Pogačar! This climbing wizard left spectators breathless as he conquered mountain after mountain, building an unbeatable lead. Watching him cruise through the final stage and time trial in the yellow jersey was simply awe-inspiring.
But let’s not forget the heart-wrenching comeback of Jonas Vingegaard. After a horrific crash in April, his Tour future looked bleak. Yet, against all odds, he not only made it to the starting line but also snagged a stunning win on stage 11. Now that’s determination!
We also witnessed history in the making:
- Mark Cavendish surpassed the legendary Eddy Merckx with his 35th stage win. Talk about sprinting prowess!
- Biniam Girmay became the first Black African cyclist to win the green jersey, inspiring a whole new generation of riders.
Here’s a fun fact: 176 riders from 22 teams lined up at the start in Florence, Italy. After three grueling weeks of racing across four countries (Italy, San Marino, Monaco, and France), battling through the Alps, Apennines, Massif Central, and Pyrenees, only 145 of the toughest finished in Nice. That’s some serious endurance!
These athletes and every rider in the peloton reminded us that the Tour de France is more than just a race. It celebrates the human spirit’s capacity to push beyond limits and achieve greatness.
And here’s an exciting connection: Did you catch stage 20? The second half of that brutal day covered the same roads that the women will be tackling in the Ironman World Championship 2024 in Nice on September 22nd. It’s a preview of the challenges awaiting those incredible triathletes!
So here’s to Pogačar, Vingegaard, Cavendish, Girmay, and all the riders who made this Tour unforgettable. They’ve shown us the extraordinary potential within each of us. Let’s carry that inspiration forward as we head into the Olympics!