Whether you’re thinking of the Paralympic Games or simply want to become a bit more active, triathlon can be the sport to get you there. With plenty of opportunities to get involved, you might just be a swim, bike and run away from where you want to be.
Getting Started
Triathlon comprises of three disciplines (swimming, cycling and running) which are completed one after the other in continuous activity. If you find a particular discipline hard physically or practically, then there are other multisport options available to you.
Duathlon (run, bike, run), aquathlon (swim, run) and aquabike (swim, bike) all allow you to ‘miss out’ a particular discipline to suit you! You can also get involved with triathlon as a team to take on a relay where one of you will swim, one cycles, and one runs.
Tandem bikes, tricycles and other adapted bikes can all be used on the bike leg, as well as handcycles and wheelchairs to allow you to take part on the run. If you have a visual impairment, you can also take part with a guide to support you on the course.
If you think you are ready to take triathlon a bit further and you are an aspiring Paralympian then please get in touch with out Paratriathlon Talent Manager Alasdair Donaldson who will be able to help guide you through your first steps on the pathway.
Find out more about how you can take part in triathlon with a disability by clicking on the boxes below.
Give it a go with GO TRI
GO TRI is British Triathlon’s entry level programme and is a fun, relaxed way to access triathlon and multisport for the first time.
Get involved with Active Sessions and Events, all of which are tailored to beginners in the sport; meaning that whilst it may be a race, the main goal is to cross the line. As GO TRI Events are smaller in number, they can also be a great place to get used to participating with any modified equipment or additional assistance you may need.
Take on an Event
There are over a thousand triathlon and multisport events to take part in throughout the year which you can find on the British Triathlon Permitted Event Search. Whilst the majority of these aren’t specific disability events, simply contact the Event Organiser in advance to discuss any additional requirements you may have and how they can be accommodated.
Each year there are a number of specific Paratriathlon Events, such as our British Paratriathlon Championships and British Paraduathlon Championships, as well as events specifically for anyone with a disability. You can find out more about Paratriathlon and disability events here.
If you are an Event Organiser, you can access resources and guidance to making your events inclusive and accessible on the Event Organiser System.
Join a Club
Clubs are the best way to get involved because they’re full of people wanting to swim, bike and run. They’re a great way to exercise and make friends at the same time, plus with coaches and experienced triathletes, are a great way to develop towards your goal – whether that’s your first triathlon or competing at the Paralympic Games.
If you want to know more about a club before going along and how they can support you and accommodate any additional requirements, get in touch with the club and they’ll be able to help you get involved.
We know being new to a triathlon club can be daunting, but everyone there was the ‘new person’ once and will welcome you to the triathlon family!
Get a Paratriathlon classification
Everyone and anyone can compete in triathlon regardless of their level of ability or impairment. However, if you wish to compete specifically in 'Paratriathlon' events, such as the British Championships, or have ambitions of being a Paralympian then you will need to be classified to determine the classification you will race in.
Talk to someone in your area
If you want to talk to someone about how to get involved in your local area, please contact the Regional Development Manager for your county:
| REgional Development Manager | Counties Supported | Email Address |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Morgan-Nicholson | Northumberland, Durham, Tyne & Wear, Teeside and Cumbria | sammorgannicholson@britishtriathlon.org |
| Michelle Scott | North, East, South and West Yorkshire and Humberside | michellescott@britishtriathlon.org |
| Oliver Heald | Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Derbyshire | oliverheald@britishtriathlon.org |
| Sarah Williams | Northamptonshire, Leicestershire & Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire | sarahwilliams@britishtriathlon.org |
| Lizzy Campbell | Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk | lizzycampbell@britishtriathlon.org |
| Kirsty Outhwaite | Birmingham, Black Country, Greater Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire | kirstyouthwaite@britishtriathlon.org |
| Jon Train | London, Surrey and Kent | jontrain@britishtriathlon.org |
| Jen Granger | Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, East & West Sussex | jengranger@britishtriathlon.org |
| Debbie Hill | Avon, Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall | debbiehill@britishtraithlon.org |
| Calum Reid | Scotland | calum.reid@triathlonscotland.org |
| Steph Makuvise | Wales | stephmakuvise@welshtriathlon.org |
Find a Coach
British Triathlon run a comprehensive coach education programme, helping to qualify and develop triathlon coaches across the country. To find out more about coaching and how to become a coach, click here.
The Level 1 Coaching Course covers considerations for coaching paratriathletes, meaning that every qualified coach receives education on how to support participants with a disability. Embedding paratriathlon in the programme provides coaches with the understanding to develop any participant in achieving their own triathlon goals.
Meet our Elite Paratriathletes
Get to know some of British Triathlon’s elite squad who are hoping to make it to the Tokyo Paralympic Games and hear about how they got into triathlon.
For Tokyo 2020, the following classifications have been selected to form the Games competition: Men PTWC, PTS4, PTS5 and PTVI; Women PTWC, PTS2, PTS5 and PTVI. To find out more about each of these classifications, please click here.
