Many of us hoped for a return to “normal” in 2021. Did that happen? Yes and no. After a year of canceled and postponed events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, races did begin appearing on the calendar once more, albeit with safety precautions like masks before the swim start and reduced crowd sizes. Some races, including the Ironman World Championship, decided to play it safe and wait another year. 2021 also saw an abundance of virtual and exhibition events, including the Super League Arena Games, the Battle Royale, and The Collins Cup. Records were set (and broken), legends were made, and people discovered – and re-discovered – a love for all things swim-bike-run. These photos tell the story of a season that wasn’t quite normal – but perhaps that’s a good thing. It’s the start of an exciting new era in triathlon, where creativity is king and triathletes are game for any challenge that comes their way.
Read about all of these events—and more—at our Triathlete’s Best of 2021 Awards.