REF-838 · Millet et al., 2003 · European Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol. · Paper · PubMed

Physiological Characteristics of Elite Short- and Long-Distance Triathletes

Blimited evidenceMeasured on elite athletesWritten before October 2026, being re-checked

Fifteen elite male triathletes competing at the World Championships were split into short-distance (ShD) and long-distance (LD) groups. They did submaximal treadmill running, maximal then submaximal cycling, and a second submaximal run.

The ShD athletes had significantly faster swim times, but VO2max, cycling economy, peak power output and ventilatory threshold (as %VO2max) were all similar between groups, and the change in running economy from the first to the second run did not differ. Within groups, swim time correlated with peak power and economy in ShD, and cycling time with peak power in LD.

Participants

n=15 elite male triathletes participating in the World Championships (abstract: "Fifteen elite male triathletes"), divided into short-distance (ShD) and long-distance (LD) groups; group sizes not given in the abstract.

Protocol

Laboratory trial: submaximal treadmill running → maximal then submaximal cycle ergometry → an additional submaximal run.
Measured: VO2max (ml/kg/min), cycling economy (W per l/min), peak power output (W), ventilatory threshold (%VO2max), running economy in the first and second run.
Each athlete's best "in situ" short-distance triathlon performance analysed.

Key Results

ShD triathletes had a significantly faster swim time than LD.
VO2max, cycling economy, peak power output and ventilatory threshold (%VO2max) were all similar between ShD and LD.
The change (%) in running economy from the first to the second run did not differ between groups.
In ShD athletes, swimming time correlated with peak power (r=-0.76; P<0.05) and economy (r=-0.89; P<0.01).
In LD athletes, cycling time in the triathlon correlated with peak power (r=-0.83; P<0.05).
Authors' conclusion: ShD triathletes had a faster swim but did not show different maximal or submaximal cycling and running physiology from LD triathletes.

Practical Application

**Do I need a different engine for Ironman than for Olympic-distance racing?In fifteen elite male World Championship triathletes, short- and long-distance specialists had similar VO2max, cycling economy, peak power and ventilatory threshold, and a similar running-economy change after cycling; the short-course athletes differed only by swimming faster.** Moving up or down in distance does not call for a different laboratory profile at this level; the difference was in the swim, which matters more in draft-legal short course.
Among the long-distance athletes, higher peak cycling power went with faster bike splits (r=-0.83), so bike power remains a performance lever for long course.
Inference, not tested here: the similar profiles do not mean the athletes trained the same way or that durability over many hours is equal; neither was measured.
Not from this paper; the base's own practice: in draft-legal short course the swim exit position is close to decisive (REF-658), which is consistent with the swim being where the specialists differed.

Limitations

Fifteen elite men; group sizes, age and race results not given in the abstract; no women.
Cross-sectional: similar lab values do not show that the two groups trained or raced alike.
No swimming physiology was measured in the lab, although the swim was the one place the groups differed.
No durability or prolonged-exercise test, which is where long-distance specialists might be expected to differ.
Written from the abstract and record metadata only (full text not read).
How this entry was checked and changed
Why this level

cross-sectional, n=15