Triathlon Meets Technology: How supertri-E is Leading the Hybrid Sports Revolution 🏃
supertri-E represents the forefront of a sports revolution that is certain to accelerate in the months and years to come...
28 January 2025
In April, the supertri-E World Triathlon Championship will return to the London Aquatics Centre.
This year’s event is set to break new ground as it partners for the first time with MyWhoosh.
At first glance, this partnership might not sound that significant. Yet, by offering free access to their platform, MyWhoosh aligns perfectly with supertri’s vision of creating an inclusive and accessible triathlon experience for participants and spectators alike.
“Innovation is in supertri's DNA,” explained Olga Correia (Host and Activation Manager at supertri) when she appeared on the Sports Pundit Podcast. “We’re always looking for ways to bring down barriers, grow triathlon globally, and inspire the next generation.”
To that point, this year, supertri is letting under-14s attend the event for free (when accompanied by a paying adult), ensuring families and young sports enthusiasts can easily join the excitement.
It goes beyond that, though.
The format lends itself to attracting new fans and making the sport easier to follow.
Held entirely indoors, the format places spectators close to the action. Athletes swim in pools, cycle on stationary bikes, and run on treadmills, transitioning multiple times in full view of the audience. Meanwhile, real-time data—such as speed and heart rate—is displayed on screens, giving fans a unique window into the competition.
“It’s a great introduction to the sport as well. If you’ve never seen triathlon, to be able to see the athletes cycling and running right in front of you, where you can look at them and see them doing that, you’re not able to do that outdoors,” explained Correia.
This level of interactivity makes the sport more exciting to watch, creating a dynamic, immersive experience that’s ideal for younger, tech-savvy audiences.
But supertri-E doesn’t just stop at engaging fans. The hybrid format opens up the possibility of turning spectators into participants, too.
While this year’s event focuses mostly on elite athletes, the long-term vision is clear: allow anyone to follow along and compete virtually from home or at the gym using platforms like MyWhoosh.
“The hybrid format brings down barriers,” Correia explains. “If you don’t want to cycle outside in freezing weather, you can do it from the comfort of your home, connected with friends.”
This gamification of triathlon not only democratises the sport but also enhances its appeal.
Amateurs could benchmark themselves against the world’s best or compete globally in virtual arenas—a model that reflects the growing popularity of Strava leaderboards, HYROX competitions, and other community-driven sports experiences.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recognised the potential of hybrid reality sports, too - and is poised to feature them prominently in its proposed Esports Olympics, which will be held in Saudi Arabia later this year.
Other sports are catching on too. Golf has embraced hybrid reality with the launch of TGL in Florida this month, building on the popularity of golf simulators, which are booming in places like South Korea where outdoor participation is prohibitive due to space, cost, and time.
For triathlon, supertri-E’s format expands the possibilities for where and when events can be held.
Though the World Championship is returning to London this year, the same setup could work in cities or regions that would traditionally struggle to host an outdoor triathlon.
Correia points to the Kingdom as a perfect example.
“If you move the event indoors, you could perhaps have an event in Saudi Arabia in the middle of the summer when it’s 50 degrees outside,” she says. “[Suddenly] you can host it all year round.”
Furthermore, supertri-E’s adaptability makes it more managable for a potential host city than a traditional triathlon, which will often require extensive road closures and sprawling layout.
In Singapore, for instance, supertri-E used Marina Bay’s iconic landmarks to showcase the city while avoiding many of the logistical challenges.
“supertri-E is a much more sustainable, less disruptive, more contained event,” Correia explains.
As the event approaches, supertri-E stands as a testament to how tradition and technology can come together to reimagine sports.
With well-aligned partners like MyWhoosh and the potential for future endorsement from the IOC, supertri-E represents the forefront of a sports revolution that is certain to accelerate in the months and years to come.