Sports and recreation
Competing in a triathlon
Estimated population-level acute risk associated with completing a triathlon (swim, bike, run) at any race distance.
Base risk estimate
17 micromorts per races
Population-level estimate. Not a personal prediction.
Assumptions
Based on USA Triathlon-sanctioned events 1985–2016 across all race distances (sprint, Olympic, half-Ironman, Ironman). Includes cardiac and trauma-related deaths.
Limitations
Risk varies substantially by age and sex: men aged 60+ have a rate of 18.6 per 100,000, far above the overall average. Swim segment carries the majority of risk. Does not capture training-related events or non-USA Triathlon-sanctioned events.
Source notes
Maron et al. identified 135 sudden deaths, resuscitated cardiac arrests, and trauma-related deaths in US triathlon participants from 1985 to 2016 using USA Triathlon records. Overall incidence: 1.74 per 100,000 participants = 17.4 micromorts per race. Of 135 events, 90 (67%) occurred during the swim segment.
Last reviewed
5/31/2024