Triathlon participation in the U.S. 2010-2023

The participation in triathlons among U.S. Americans declined steadily between the mid-2010s and 2023, amounting to 3.1 million in 2023. At its peak, the U.S. participation in triathlons surpassed 4.2 million people. After setting a record of 1.88 million participants in 2017, the number of non-traditional and off-road triathlon racers decreased annually, with the figure amounting to 1.36 million in 2023. 

Different styles of the sport

Enthusiasts of this sport can either take part in a conventional triathlon or an off-road triathlon. The conventional triathlon includes swimming, running, and cycling over various distances. Off-road triathlons differ from traditional forms in that the sites for running and cycling are generally unpaved and mountainous. In the United States, the conventional triathlon is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the more participated-in style of the sport.

Running and walking in the United States

Before completing a triathlon, individuals can practice for one aspect of the event with regular exercise in the form of running or walking. Since 2017, the number of people walking for fitness in the United States has been climbing, reaching 115.81 million walkers in 2021. The number of running and jogging participants in the U.S. was less than half this amount in 2021, almost totaling 49 million runners that year.