triathlon
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triathlon
A sports competition discipline consisting of the three consecutive endurance sports swimming, cycling, and running.
Nächstes Jahr möchte er zum ersten Mal an einem Triathlon teilnehmen.
Next year he wants to take part in a triathlon for the first time.
The word 'Triathlon' comes from Greek. The prefix 'Tri-' means 'three' and 'athlon' means 'competition'. So a triathlon is literally a 'three-part competition'.
Ein Triathlon besteht immer aus drei Disziplinen.
A triathlon always consists of three disciplines.
Common verbs used with 'Triathlon' are 'an einem Triathlon teilnehmen' (to take part in a triathlon), 'einen Triathlon absolvieren' (to complete a triathlon), or 'für einen Triathlon trainieren' (to train for a triathlon).
Sie trainiert hart, um ihren ersten Triathlon zu absolvieren.
She is training hard to complete her first triathlon.
A triathlon always combines the three sports swimming, cycling, and running in exactly that order. The distances can vary greatly.
Nach dem Schwimmen im See musste er schnell auf sein Fahrrad wechseln.
After swimming in the lake, he had to quickly switch to his bicycle.
biathlon
'der Biathlon' and 'der Triathlon' are both sports in which several disciplines are combined. That is why the words are easy to confuse. The most important difference is the type of disciplines. Biathlon is a winter sport: the athletes ski and shoot at targets. In a triathlon, you do swimming, cycling, and running one after another. The number in the word also helps: 'bi-' stands here for two areas, 'tri-' for three. If snow, skis, and shooting are involved, 'Biathlon' is correct. If swimming, cycling, and running are involved, 'Triathlon' is correct.
Herr Fischer trainiert für den Triathlon, deshalb schwimmt er morgens und läuft abends.
Mr. Fischer is training for the triathlon, so he swims in the morning and runs in the evening.
Am Wochenende schaut der Verkäufer mit seiner Kollegin den Biathlon im Fernsehen.
At the weekend, the salesman watches the biathlon on TV with his colleague.