The ITU accepts a 5% margin of error in the cycle and run course distances.[1]

Name Swim Bicycle Run Notes
Kids of Steel 100 - 750 m 5-15 km 1-5 km
Distances vary with age of athlete. See: Ironkids

Novice (Australia) 300 m 8 km 2 km Distances vary, but this is a standard Novice distance course in Australia.

Super Sprint 400 m(6.2 mi) 2.5 km Super Sprint course.

Sprint 750 m(0.5 mi) 20 km(12.4 mi) 5 km(3.1 mi) A 500 m swim is also common. The Sprint Distance is the fastest growing triathlon race distance in the United States

Olympic 1.5 km(24.8 mi) 10 km(6.2 mi)
Also known as "international distance", "standard course", or "short course


Though there can be some variation in race distances, particularly among short triathlons, most triathlons conform to one of those above standards.