The Olympic Triathlon competition will have the record participation of 39 countries
The International Triathlon Union has closed the deadline to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games, with the surprising fact that 39 countries will be present in this event, with a total of 110 participants, unprecedented numbers to date.
55 men and as many women managed to certify, over the last two years, their classification for this summer's event, thus marking a record number of both participants and countries represented.
These figures break the records of recent years, demonstrating the boom that this sport is experiencing. In Beijing 2008, 36 National Committees were present, compared to 33 in Athens 2004 and 34 in Sydney 2000. In the latter there was the record of participants with 100 athletes, 50 men and 50 women, surpassed by 10 runners by this summer.
“Having a record number of National Olympic Committees from all five continents indicates the phenomenal growth that triathlon is experiencing. With many medal hopefuls from so many countries, the Hyde Park triathlon will be an event that will mark the Games,” said the president of the ITU, the Spanish Marisol Casado.
Among the 39 participating countries, there will be five that will debut in this competition, which will be Ecuador, Mauritius, Monaco, Republic of Korea and Slovenia. On the other hand, the United States, Australia, Great Britain, Japan, France, Germany, New Zealand and Spain will contribute the maximum of three women to the competition, while Great Britain, Germany, New Zealand, Russia, France, Australia, Spain and Canada, they will do the same in the men's sector.
Javier Gómez Noya, Mario Mola, José Miguel Pérez, Ainhoa Murua, Zuriñe Rodríguez and Marina Damlaimcourt will be the Spanish representatives. The test will be held on Sunday, August 4 for girls, and on Wednesday, August 7 for men. In both cases, the triathlon will take place in the well-known park in the English capital Hyde Park.
EuropaPress
