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Swimming, cycling and running are great ways to exercise and stay healthy. When these three practices come together they become triathlon, an increasingly popular sport in our country. And, according to Statista, from 2010 to 2019 the number of people registered in the Spanish Triathlon Federation rose from 15,000 to more than 32,000. And, of course, the presence of women triathletes, which already represents more than 30% of the total.

One of the reasons that points Jose Hidalgopresident of the Spanish Triathlon Federation, about the interest of athletes in triathlon is that “fortunately “This sport is born from equality.”.

“From minute one there is the same award and the same recognition. Since it began in the 80s until now we have had one very important thing in our DNA: the inclusion in sport, even from the Paralympic. That has meant that women have seen it as a space of equality from minute one,” she tells MagasIN.

There is also equality in the well-known competition of Hombre de Hierro, one of the toughest sporting events with 3.86 km of swimming in the open sea, 180 km of cycling and 42.2 km of running. “The competition continues to be governed by how it began: same effort, same economic recognition, same social recognition within the world of triathlon and Ironman”.

However, in the absence of a competition called ‘Ironwoman’Hidalgo admits that “you also have to start thinking about words, which I think are important.”

The Spanish references

That “egalitarian DNA” that Hidalgo speaks of is also reflected in the high echelons of the Federation, since the 60% of the members of the Management Committee are women. Also at the level of professional athletes, where the youngest ones have a multitude of references: from Ana Burgos to Ainhoa ​​Murua, Maribel Blanco either Pilar Hidalgowhich was the first Olympic.

“Currently, we have women who are leading and have great recognition as Miriam Casillaswhich was Olympic gold, Ana Godoy, Sara Pérez Sala, or the paralympic triathlete Susana Rodriguez. They are women who are fighting at this moment and who are the benchmark in our sport. A very important generation of young girls, juniors and U23s, is also coming, and very soon we will hear about them,” Hidalgo emphasizes.

How to start

The president of the Federation encourages everyone to practice triathlon and for those who want to start, but do not know how, he recommends going to triathlon clubs and schools, where they can resolve all their doubts. For him the key is to enjoy this sport which, in his words, is “very complete and fun”.

“It allows you to work on various sports skills and a very harmonious development. That combination of swimming, with cycling, with running, makes the sport compensatory in regards to muscle wasting“.

And he continues: “Regardless of whether you are an elite athlete or an amateur, in the end you are practicing three sports that are complementary.” This also makes it more fun because, for example, I came from athletics, because it wasn’t every day that I put on my shoes and went running. If I feel like swimming more, I’ll go swimming, or if I prefer to go out on my bike, then I’ll go out.”

“Also, although it is an individual sport, The triathlete is a social being. For example, they usually go out in cycling groups and with groups of friends, and most of them usually swim in triathlon clubs. So, he socializes a lot,” he adds.

This team environment that triathletes experience, says Hidalgo, makes it become “a very attractive sport that generates resources of belonging.” “What I see is that we grow because “People feel proud to be triathletes.”he concludes.

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