The International Triathlon Union has fought persistently and successfully to add the mixed team relay to the Olympic programme and a third gold medal to triathlon\u2019s lot.<\/p>\n
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The greater showcase is welcome. The International Olympic Committee, while not currently in the habit of axing sports, has needed some persuasion to retain modern pentathlon and wrestling on its roster in recent years, so improving the popularity of tri through the two-woman, two-man contest helps further weave it into the fabric of the Games.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Having been showcased in Commonwealth competition and become increasingly commonplace on the World Triathlon Series, it has few detractors, but what the format receives in plaudits, it also lacks in scrutiny. The mixed relay only works if it serves to complement the main event \u2013 yet there are warning signs that it might just undermine it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As so often in life, potential ramifications don\u2019t arise from poor intentions, but a flawed system. In this case it\u2019s predicated on the longstanding truism that medals equal money, leading to national teams protecting funding by prioritising events where podium performances are most likely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There is precedent. In the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland withdrew their female entrants from the individual event, saving them solely for the relay \u2013 and leaving home fans puzzled as to why there was no-one to cheer when the Auld Enemy had two on the podium.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This gaming of selection further threatens to mar Tokyo2020. Astute performance directors may feel compelled to concentrate on a well-drilled quartet for the shorter- format racing, instilling their charges with the message that should the solo competition not be going to plan they should ease up and save their legs.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The antithesis of the Olympic spirit? Absolutely. Far-fetched? Far from it. Last year in Hamburg, Australia\u2019s Ashleigh Gentle was off the pace in the sprint race and quit. \u201cUnder normal circumstances I would NEVER usually \u2018just DNF\u2019,\u201d she revealed on social media. \u201cUnder instruction from Triathlon Australia, I pulled out near the start of the run to save myself for the mixed relays.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Australians were beaten into second place by France the following day, the irony being that Gentle went on to win the end-of-season Grand Final and finish sixth overall in the series. In completing just five races compared to her rivals\u2019 six, that decision not to stay the course in Hamburg resulted not just in loss of face, but several thousand AUS dollars.<\/p>\n
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Elite sport is full of calculated decisions, and when rewards are high, this is understandable if not commendable. But it\u2019s also incumbent on those providing governance to make sure the framework of competition is robust so it cannot be abused in this manner. If triathletes don\u2019t give their all in individual competition it might slightly increase the chances of a team medal but will damage something far more important \u2013 the long-term faith in our sport.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n