The top 10 Olympic Triathletes of All Time
The top 10 Olympic Triathletes of All Time
By Jocelyn Alano July 25, 2024 08:55
In the fast-paced and often changing triathlon world, only a few athletes can reach the top echelon of Olympian greatness. These amazing people have been through all of the inaugurations, from the very first Olympic triathlon event in Seoul back at the 1988 Summer Olympics to Tokyo as well.
1. Alistair Brownlee (Great Britain)
- Years Competed: 2012, 2016
- Notable Accomplishments: Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist (2012, 2016), Two Time ITU World Champion (2009, 2011)
No man has been as successful overall at the Olympic Games as Alistair Brownlee, widely considered among triathlon's most superior athletes. He made his name as a junior in 2006 when he scooped the world title, and two years later, he followed it with success at the U23 level. His gung-ho racing style took him to the top, and recent Olympic gold made sure it would continue into the eternal hall of fame.
Through his hard work ethic and indestructible spirit, Brownlee came to reign supreme on the short course circuit with two ITU world titles and numerous World Cup wins. His talent for playing on the grandest stage in an Olympic competition makes him stand out.
2. Flora Duffy (Bermuda)
- Years: 2012, 2016,2020
- Major titles: 2020 Olympic gold medal, three-time ITU world champion (2016-17 and '21), five XTERRA World Titles consecutively from 2014 to'19.
Bermuda's own Flora Duffy is the best of both ITU and world dominance with XTERRA. She is the only woman on earth who has actually managed that feat.
That speaks volumes of her prowess and is why she has five XTERRA world championships in two formats where other athletes often struggle to compete across three disciplines. Her celebrity status in Bermuda, her home country and a nation where she has not one but two public holidays named after her underscores the seismic nature of what triathlons mean to her sport.
3. Dave Scott (United States)
- Career Highlights: 6x Ironman world champion (1980, '82-84,'86-87)
Although Dave Scott never got to race at the Olympic Games, he left his mark on triathlon as one of its true greatest all-time greats. One of the pioneers in the sport, Scott was relentless, and at a time when no endurance limit would hold, it seemed he broke them every day.
4. Javier Gomez (Spain)
- Years: 2008, 2012 and 2016
- Accomplishments: 2012 Olympic silver medalist, five-time ITU world champion 2008, 2010, and from 2013-15, 2012 XTERRA world champ, two-time Ironman 70.3 worlds winner dresser was the fastest wording. a runner who ran in x minutes during a triathlon position-wise
Gomez is among the most triumphant short course racers in history, with five world titles plus an Olympic silver medal. No man in modern times has dominated golf at the highest level for as long a period consistently, with consistency, than this Spaniard.
5. Jonny Brownlee (Great Britain)
- Competed: 2012, 2016, 2020
- Major Results: 2012 Olympic bronze; (ITU) World champion, Sprints(3 x times & Mixed Relay(1 time), U23 Series winner on both Sprint (2008) and O-J Triathlon Cross-Championships,
Jonathan Brownlee's right has made his impression on the sport of triathlon as the younger brother of Alistair. He may not have his brother's Olympic gold medal count, but Jonny has been one of the most successful triathletes over a greatly extended period by consistency and adaptability.
Although his Olympic crowns are wilting, Brownlee is still among the tri-greats. He also showed he was the real deal on sports' biggest stage by producing a relay leg to remember as Great Britain took gold in the first-ever mixed team event at an Olympic Games earlier this summer.
6. Kristian Blummenfelt (Norway)
- Years Competed: 2016, 2020
- Achievements: 2020 Olympic gold medal, 2021 ITU world champion, 2021 Ironman world champion and the reigning Team You Can coach
Kristian Blummenfelt's meteoric rise through the ranks has been swift and scintillating. Norwegians have made history by becoming the first man ever to achieve World Titles at Olympic and Ironman distances simultaneously.
This is evident in the sterling list of credentials to his name, an Olympic gold, ITU world title, and Ironman plus 70.3 world records, among them for Blummenfelt dominance.
7. Simon Whitfield (Canada)
- Years:2000, 04,08,12
- Accomplishments: 2000 Olympic gold medalist, won 11 ITU World Cup events, nine Pan American Cups.
Simon Whitfield's inclusion in the silver position honors his trail-blazing accomplishments. As Sydney's inaugural Olympic men's triathlon champion in 2000, Whitfield entered cycling immortality and led a generation of Canadian cyclists to strive for greatness.
Whitfield may not have had all the headlines or titles of some on this list, but what he did for his sport and his ability to get it done at the Games make him an Olympian great.
8. Gwen Jorgensen (United States)
- Years Competed: 2012, 2016
- Career Highlights: 2016 Olympic champion, 2x ITU World Champion (2014-15)
Few athletes like Gwen Jorgensen have seen such a meteoric rise to the top of their sport. The American enjoyed success longevity in a relatively late start to the sport as she burst onto the scene and wasted little time establishing herself at the pinnacle of short course racing with back-to-back ITU world titles in 2014 and 2015
Although Jorgensen's career was short-lived, her presence rings in the sport. That Olympic victory, paired with her ITU domination so far, has truly put Gwen as one of the all-time greats.
9. Nicola Spirig (Switzerland)
- Seasons Competed: 2004, 2008, 2012,
- Major Titles: 2012 (London) Olympic Champion, 2016 Rio de Janeiro. Silver medalist, ITU world champion in years of events with the to information missing dims
Nicola Spirig's durability and continuity have left her with one of the most decorated Olympic triathlon careers. The fact the Swiss athlete has run four Olympic marathons and won a gold in 1996 and silver in 4 at, over seven years apart, is a testament to her longevity.
Her two ITU world titles in 2010 and 2012 only add to her record as one of the all-time greats, outside Olympic success. Staying competitive at the top level for over ten years is something very few have ever achieved in triathlon, which has been possible due to her adaptability and versatility in typing.
10. Hamish Carter (New Zealand) -
- Major Achievements: 2004 Athens Olympics Gold Medalist in Men's Triathlon, 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games Silver Medalist, Multiple ITU World Cup Victories, Multiple New Zealand Triathlete of the Year Awards, Medalist at ITU World Triathlon Championships, 2001 ITU World Championships Silver
The gold medalist in Athens 2004, Carter’s performance under pressure was a testament to his career-long dedication and ability to peak at the right moment, making him a standout in the sport's history.
The triathletes on the following slides have impacted the sport of triathlon in ways that will be felt for generations. They shatter what was once thought to be humanly possible and inspire a play-hard ethos that is endemic to our heroic ideal today.
As the sport of triathlon continues to progress, these special athletes set new benchmarks in greatness that future generations can aspire towards. These are tales of resilience, dedication, and victory, a tribute to the spirit of people everywhere and what is possible when coached by an individual with a love for sport.
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