Published August 2, 2012 12:19PM
London 2012 Olympic Triathlon By The Numbers
Triathlon.org shares some of the interesting facts and figures from the Olympic triathlon competition.
Photo: Paul Phillips/Competitive Image
Triathlon.org shares some of the interesting facts and figures from the Olympic triathlon competition.
The London 2012 Olympic Games will host the fourth edition of the triathlon competition at the Olympics, and in doing so there are some interesting facts and figures to note. Here are just a few of the points to watch for in the men’s and women’s triathlon competitions in London.
39 – different National Olympic Committees, A record 39 NOCs will participate in the London 2012 triathlon competition, including 55 women across 30 NOCs and 55 men from 32 NOCs. A maximum of three athletes are permitted per gender, per nation, with eight having qualified the maximum. The 39 NOCs is an all-time high, compared to 36 in Beijing in 2008. Ecuador, Mauritius, Monaco, Republic of Korea, and Slovenia each qualified triathletes for the first time in Olympic history.
37 – years, 2 months and 23 days, the age of Canada’s Simon Whitfield, the oldest competitor in the men’s field.
37 – years, 3 months and 11 days, the age of the USA’s Laura Bennett, the oldest competitor in the women’s field.
34 – Has so far been the luckiest number at the Olympics. Start numbers indicate not only transition position, but also have served as a talisman. Emma Snowsill won gold in Beijing in 2008, Susan Williams picked up bronze in Athens in 2004, and Magali Di Marco also took bronze in Sydney in 2000, all while wearing No. 34. In London, Nicky Samuels of New Zealand has the number.
20 – years, 9 months and 28 days – the age of Italy’s Davide Uccellari, the youngest athlete in the men’s field.
20 – years, 5 months and 15 days, the age of Great Britain’s Lucy Hall, the youngest athlete in the women’s field.