A test of both endurance and athletic versatility, the Olympic triathlon requires competitors to excel at three very different and demanding disciplines: swimming, cycling and running. Olympic triathletes swim 1500m, bike 40,000m and run 10,000m. Men and women compete separately.

The mixed relay makes its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games. It involves four-person teams of two men and two women who each perform a shrunken version of the traditional triathlon with a 300-meter swim, 8-kilometer cycle and 2-kilometer run.