A new chapter in the history of triathlon opens today when the first World Conference of Science in Triathlon officially gets underway in Spain.
A host of scientists, physiologists, doctors, academics and triathlon coaches and administrators have arrived at the University of Alicante for the three-day conference, which includes nine different keynote speakers who are all experts in their field as well as almost 100 paper and poster submissions from around the world.
And no one is happier than ITU President Marisol Casado – who has long held the idea that science and triathlon should work together to further enhance the sport.
“It’s really a dream come true for me as it’s something that I believe has always been important and after 30-years of the ITU, it is about time that this happened,” she said.
“Science is so important in triathlon, an extra second in transition could make or break an elite race, but it also has a larger role to play for all triathletes as I believe using scientific principles is the best way to the sport safe for everyone; juniors, age-groupers and paratriathletes.”
“Overall, triathlon is a dynamic sport, always moving and changing and once you consider the three legs there are still underlying decisions to make about bikes, wetsuits, pacing, transitions and more. I believe it’s the nature of the sport that opens it up to different and special research and scientific applications. So I hope this conference is just the start of future collaboration between triathlon and science, as it becomes place for researchers working on triathlon to be recognised for their contribution and where new ideas can be discussed.”
“I’m very thankful to the University of Alicante for holding this conference, where better than a University to engage in the sharing of ideas, and I am thrilled that this idea has finally become a reality.”
Over the course of the conference the nine respected keynote speakers will cover topics ranging from physiological requirements of triathlon, anti-doping, quantifying triathlon training, the differences between Olympic distance and sprint events, intricacies of the swim and run legs, training for long-distance triathlons, altitude training and tapering.
On top of that there are another 66 scientific papers and 27 posters submitted from all corners of the world that will be on display, and they range in topics from psychology, sports medicine to sociology and anthropometry. The best scientific papers selected will also be published as articles in the Journal of Human Sport and Exercise.
The conference runs from Thursday to Saturday at the University of Alicante and can be viewed live through the conference website. To view this feed, please click here.
The conference is a joint project between the University of Alicante, the Degree Programme in Sport and Physical Activity Sciences (GCAFD) and the International Triathlon Union (ITU). Triathlon Trisense and Sportraining have collaborated with the organisation and it has been sponsored by the Municipal Tourism Board and Playas de Alicante, the Student Council, Villauniversitaria, Compex, Tecnosport, Power Plate and Maxifuel.