Triathlon Competition Rules: Swimming

Anyone starting a triathlon should be familiar with the most important rules in order to get through the competition fairly and safely. In our series of competition rules, we present you with the relevant guidelines for your own behavior and the permitted material. This post is about the first discipline: swimming.

The following explanations are a summary of the most important provisions of the sports location regulations of the German Triathlon Union (SpO der DTU) in the current version.

General Provisions

• No regulations are made about the swimming style
• For your own safety, you are allowed to hold on to suitable places during the swim, but without gaining an advantage. If, in an emergency, assistance is provided by rescue personnel or a referee, the competition may not be continued
• If the organizer provides a bathing cap, this must be worn
• The start number (in paper form) may not be worn when swimming
• Swimming goggles / swimming masks are permitted
• All aids such as fins, snorkels, paddles, pull buoys and socks are not permitted
• inflatable swimming buoys are allowed, but only as long as they are not activated. In the event of inflation of the buoy, the competition must be terminated.
• Jewelery that could injure oneself or others is also prohibited
• Swimming in front of the starting line is allowed up to 3 minutes before the start

Clothing & Wetsuits

• Minimum clothing for men is swimming trunks, for women a bathing suit
• Triathlon one-piece suits are allowed, but the swimwear must not cover any parts of the body on the arms below the elbows and below the knees (only applies if neoprene is banned)
• Wearing a wetsuit/wetsuit is governed by water temperature regulations (see below)
• Wetsuits:
  • may have a maximum material thickness of 5 mm
  • must not have any pockets or overlaps on the sleeves that cause the arm area to spread or widen (e.g. wing or webbed effect)
  • Multi-piece thermal suits are allowed - maximum 3 pieces: upper body part, lower body part, face mask
  • if wearing a wetsuit is mandatory, at least the torso must be covered
• Swimming suits / swimskins
  • Swimming suits (swimskins) may be worn if neoprene is prohibited
  • Swimming suits and wetsuits must not be worn on top of each other

Note: Swimskins are NOT conventional triathlon one-piece suits, but high-performance suits specially designed for swimming, which are usually pulled over the triathlon one-piece suit, reduce water resistance thanks to their material properties and improve the position in the water thanks to their extremely tight fit

• • Swim suits must not generate buoyancy
  • Swim suits must be removed after swimming

Water temperature & use of wetsuits

• The water temperature will be measured by a judge one hour before the competition along the competition course at a depth of 60 cm.
• If the water temperature is below 14° C, no swimming is allowed
• The following overview shows the current use of wetsuits: