However, the mythical appearance of the most brutal of the triathlon categories was delayed a further four years, and took place in the middle of the Pacific, in Hawaii: the Ironman. There, an argument arose between US marines. Basically the one described in the first paragraph, but regarding specific distances of a short list of famous Hawaiian trials: what will have more merit, swimming across Waikiki (3.8 kilometres), the Oahu cycling race (180 kilometres, but in two stages) or the statutory 42 kilometres of Honolulu marathon?

Army captain John Collins had experienced the Californian Mission Bay (a lot more modest as regards distances), and he organised a circuit that united the three great insular trials, on an epic day. Gordon Haller is still in the gold book as the first “iron man” of what is still a world reference trial.

There are other Ironman (or ‘long distance triathlons’) in various parts of the world, but the Hawaiian one is regarded as the mother of all, and the most important: a real World Championship.

Obviously, combining the distances of the three sections we can get a lot of different types of trials… But the main ones are Sprint (750 metres on foot, 20 km on the bike and 5 km on foot), Olympic (1.5 km/40 km/ 10 km), Medium Distance or ’70,3' (1.9/90/21) and Long Distance or Ironman (3.8/180/42).

Actually, it is only the long races organised by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) that can be called Ironman with full rights, and they classify for the World Championship held annually in Hawaii. However, the WTC also organises a 70,3 World Championship in Florida. The other great body is the International Triathlon Union (ITU), dedicated to starting up various Olympic distance ones, and the Games themselves (since Sydney, triathlon also competes), or World Championships of that distance and others, but always shorter than Ironman’s.

Besides, we have spoken here about a triathlon which we could typically describe as water, bicycle, foot. However, there are several possibilities, some very original ones. From duathlon (race on foot, bicycle and again on foot), typical during cold seasons, to aquathlon (on foot-water-on foot), obviously more favourable during warmer seasons.

But also winter triathlon (athletics-bicycle-cross country skiing), very popular in the North, or mountain triathlon (with a mountain bike in the cycling part, and through paths; there is also duathlon of this type) and the great quadrathlon (swimming- canoeing-cycling-race on foot). Only for.... the very daring.