U.S. Triathlon Participation Reaches 2.3 Million In 2010

According to the latest study from the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association the sport of triathlon is booming with a 55 percent growth in 2010.

An estimated 2.3 million unique individuals completed a triathlon in 2010, representing 55 percent growth in one year, according to a recent report from the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA). In addition, USA Triathlon annual membership totals reached an all-time high in excess of 140,000 last year, with another 326,000-plus one-day license holders, continuing to demonstrate the sustained growth of multisport participation in the United States.

According to the SGMA, approximately 2,295,000 individuals completed at least one triathlon in 2010, up from 1,481,000 unique participants in 2009. Additionally, an estimated 1,978,000 individuals participated in an on-road triathlon in 2010, while 929,000 athletes competed in an off-road event last year.

The 1.9-million on-road competitors marked a 63.7 percent increase from 2009 (1.2 million participants) and a 147.9 percent increase since 2007 (798,000 participants). Additionally, the 929,000 off-road participants demonstrated 39.5 percent growth since 2009 (666,000 participants) and 92.3 percent growth since 2007 (483,000 participants).

Additionally, the SGMA estimated that there were 1.2 million core on-road triathletes and another 694,000 core off-road participants in 2010. The SGMA defines core participants as athletes that completed two or more events last year.

Read more: Usatriathlon.org