World Triathlon

Sunny Cancun Mexico provided an idyllic backdrop today for the inaugural ITU Corporate Team World Championships.  Multi-national organisations and businesses put their team building and fitness skills to the test by completing an Olympic distance triathlon.  Veteran and first-time triathletes from various countries were represented including Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Canada, United States of America, Tahiti, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.

The teams could choose to compete in the Triathlon Relay format or the Triathlon Team format.  The Triathlon Relay format consists of one member completing the traditional 1,500 metre swim, another the 40 kilometre bike, and a third the 10 kilometre run.  The Triathlon Team format is where each member of the three member team completes one-third of the Olympic distance triathlon (500 metre swim, 13 kilometre bike, 3.3 kilometre run), handing off to the next teammate.

Taking place in a fun and relaxing setting, the corporate championships was declared a success by ITU Executive Director Loreen Barnett.

The corporate team championships emphasis completion, not competition, said Barnett, who competed on her own team early in the day.  To be able to bring companies and people from around the world together with the same focus of healthy living is very rewarding for us.

The days races were the culmination of a four-day long corporate health and fitness seminar hosted by the International Triathlon Union and led by ITU commentator Barrie Shepley.  Barrie and his team of world-class speakers and coaches reviewed many of the corporate behaviors that lead to a successful, healthy and productive organisation as well as providing useful training tips for the first-time or long-time triathlete.

The sun peaked out from behind the clouds for the start of the corporate championships as the first team members entered to calm waters of Cancun.  Out of the water and onto the bike the sun continued to shine and temperatures quickly rose to almost 30 degrees Celsius.  By the half way point of the race the clouds had returned and soon a typical rainy season system blew in from the warm Caribbean Sea and vanished just as quickly leaving things soggy and wet.  It was a refreshing change however as many of the teams completed the Olympic distance event in two and a half to three hours.

Click here for official results

Click here for official photo gallery.