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An aquathlon is a multisport race consisting of continuous and run and swim elements. Competitors complete a swim immediately followed by a run over various distances. Athletes compete for fastest overall course completion, including the time transitioning between the disciplines.

Aquathlon is one of a family of endurance based multisport races, which gained popularity from triathlon and various independent races in the second half of the twenty century. Modern aquathlon is viewed as a discipline of triathlon as standard races cover the same distances as triathlon but without the cycling leg game. As such the sport is governed by International Triathlon Union who organise the world championships each year.

History
An earliest contested date for aquathlon is hard to state due to it being a combination of swimming and running which both have ancient origins. The modern roots of aquathlon can be traced to life guarding races in Australia, in the 1950s. Races would consist of a run along a beach, swim out to sea round a buoy and swim back to the beach, get out and then run back along the beach. By the 1960s the idea had spread to California in the United States, becoming popular with runners and swimmers. USA Triathlon argue that the first aquathlon event in the USA was the Dave Pain Birthday Biathlon, a race consisting of a run and swim first held in San Diego in 1971. This point is made due to aquathlons relation to triathlon and the fact that the Dave Pain Birthday Biathlon is the race that helped to inspire the first triathlon race (Mission Bay Triathlon) three years later.

Organisation
The International Triathlon Union (ITU) was founded in 1989 as the international governing body of triathlon. The ITU sanctions and organises the Aquathlon World Championships each year, with world champion crowned each year for both men and women in the elite, under 23, junior, and age-group categories.

Every year the ITU issues a full rule set which covers all the multi-sports that they govern, the 146 page rule book contains a full over site of the rules of each sport as well as a collection of stipulations, guidelines and exemptions. The same rules are designed to apply to all levels of the sport, although certain modifications for groups such as juniors, seniors, women and people with physical disabilities are permitted. Most national federations use this as the basis of their own rules set however with minor changes normally around cold water temperatures.

Overview speedskat
The standard rink for long track is 400 meters long, but tracks of 200, 250 and 333​1⁄3 meters are used occasionally.

Aquathlon is one of three sports derived by eliminating one element from a standard Triathlon, due to this history most races use the same distances as are used in a standard distance triathlon a 1500m swim and a 10k run, with

International Skating Union rules allow some leeway in the size and radius of curves. Short-track speed skaters racing through a curve Short track speed skating takes place on a smaller rink, normally the size of an ice hockey rink, on a 111.12 m oval track. Distances are shorter than in long-track racing, with the longest Olympic individual race being 1500 meters (the women's relay is 3000 meters and the men's relay 5000 meters). Event are usually held with a knockout format, with the best two in heats of four or five qualifying for the final race, where medals are awarded. Disqualifications and falls are not uncommon.

There are variations on the mass-start races. In the regulations of roller sports, eight different types of mass starts are described. Among them are elimination races, where one or more competitors are eliminated at fixed points during the course; simple distance races, which may include preliminary races; endurance races with time limits instead of a fixed distance; points races; and individual pursuits.

Races usually have some rules about disqualification if an opponent is unfairly hindered; these rules vary between the disciplines. In long track speed skating, almost any infringement on the pairmate is punished, though skaters are permitted to change from the inner to the outer lane out of the final curve if they are not able to hold the inner curve, as long as they are not interfering with the other skater. In mass-start races, skaters will usually be allowed some physical contact.

Team races are also held; in long track speed skating, the only team race at the highest level of competition is the Team pursuit, though athletics-style relay races are held at children's competitions. Relay races are also held in short track and inline competitions, but here, exchanges may take place at any time during the race, though exchanges may be banned during the last couple of laps.

Most speed skating races are held on an oval course, but there are exceptions. Oval sizes vary; in short track speed skating, the rink must be an oval of 111.12 metres, while long track speed skating uses a similarly standardized 400 m rink. Inline skating rinks are between 125 and 400 metres, though banked tracks can only be 250 metres long. Inline skating can also be held on closed road courses between 400 and 1,000 metres, as well as open-road competitions where starting and finishing lines do not coincide. This is also a feature of outdoor marathons.

In the Netherlands, marathon competitions may be held on natural ice on canals, and bodies of water such as lakes and rivers, but may also be held on artificially frozen 400 m tracks, with skaters circling the track 100 times, for example.

Racing
Before the start of competition, athletes will generally be allotted a small section of ground space in the transition area this is for their for shoes a towel and a change of clothes should they need it.)

Racers are generally categorised into separate professional and amateur categories. Amateurs, who make up the large majority of triathletes, are often referred to as "age groupers" since they are typically further classified by sex and age; which offers the opportunity to compete against others of one's own gender and age group. The age groups are defined in five- or ten-year intervals.

Depending on the type and size of the race, there may be any of the following methods implemented to start the race. In a mass start, all athletes enter the water and begin the competition following a single start signal. In wave start events, smaller groups of athletes begin the race every few minutes. An athlete's wave is usually determined either by age group or by predicted swim time. Wave starts are more common in shorter races where a large number of amateur athletes are competing. Another option is individual time trial starts, where athletes enter the water one at a time, a few seconds apart.

The swim leg usually proceeds around a series of marked buoys before athletes exit the water near the transition area. Racers exit out of the water, enter the transition area, and change from their swim gear and into their cycling gear. Competition and pressure for faster times have led to the development of specialized triathlon clothing that is adequate for both swimming and cycling, allowing many racers to have a transition that consists of only removing their wetsuit, cap, and goggles and pulling on a helmet and cycling shoes. In some cases, racers leave their cycling shoes attached to their bicycle pedals and slip their feet into them while riding. Some triathletes don't wear socks, decreasing their time spent in transition even more.

Racers enter the transition area, rack their bicycles, and quickly change into running shoes before heading out for the final stage. The running stage usually ends at a separate finish line near the transition area.

Overview
Aquathlon in general follows triathlon distances, but there is variability. Mostly open-water but there are some pool-based sprints/super-sprints.

ITU "Warm water" standard distances are 2.5km run, 1000m swim, 2.5km run. If the rated water temperature is below 22°C then it becomes a wetsuit-mandatory 1000m swim and a single 5km run. "Long course" distances are 2000m swim and 10km of running. Where the rated water temperature is low (around 16°C) then the course may be shortened, and possibly cancelled.

Different national federations have their own distances and temperature rules, typically related to the acclimatisation of national athletes. For example, the Icelanders will train/race at 10°C whereas the BTF start at 12°C. BTF aquathlons tend to be 750m wetsuit-mandatory/optional and a 5km run.

Aquathlons are most similar to triathlons, with the key difference being the lack of a cycle leg. The bike adds extra complexity for both the athletes and race organisers.
 * Bikes must be transported to the venue, which can be logistically onerous for the athletes, especially for international events.
 * The race director has to select a course that allows space for the bike leg, possibly including road closures.
 * They can be run informally in local lakes.

Modern pentathlon is similar to an aquathlon in that both include swimming and running. But swimming and cross-country running are only two of the five events which make up the modern pentathlon, and these are held as distinct, noncontiguous events. Within the pentathlon sport, the term biathle is also used for (training) races comprising swimming and running. These however contain distance stemming from pentathlon races, for instance 200m swimming 3km running.

Another sport derived from triathlon is duathlon, which combines cycling and running but has omitted the swimming part.

Events
The ITU Aquathlon World Championships is the highest competition for the sport, and has been contested annually since 1998.

The World Beach Games is a multi-sport event of which aquathlon and a team relay aquathlon occur.