LA28 has revealed the courses for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic triathlons, with all three events centred on Venice Beach in Los Angeles.

The women’s individual race, scheduled for 15 July, will award the first Olympic medals of the Games. The men race on 16 July, followed by the mixed relay on 20 July. The Paralympic events take place on 18–19 August.

Each course uses a single transition area near the finish line on the Pacific coast. The bike and run routes loop through Venice, bringing athletes back past spectators several times.

Olympic individual races: a surf start

The Olympic races begin on the beach rather than from a pontoon. Athletes will swim 1,000m, leave the water for a 25m run, then return for a second lap of 500m.

That entry and exit could become a significant part of the race. Rio 2016 champion Gwen Jorgensen trained in the water at Venice Beach earlier this year as she prepares for a possible appearance at her home Games.

“This is a very unique course, the swim specifically, just with the dynamics of the waves,” she said. Jorgensen also described practising a long run across the sand and dolphin dives to get through the surf.

After the 1,500m swim, athletes will ride eight 5km laps for a total of 40km. The route follows the Venice Beach path and local streets, with two technical turnarounds. It is essentially pretty flat.

The final 10km run comprises four 2.5km laps, including a section over the bridges of the Venice Canals, before the coastal finish.

Mixed relay: four athletes, one shared finish

The mixed team relay follows the women–men–women–men order this time.

Each athlete will swim one 350m lap from the shoreline, cycle two 3.3km laps and run two 800m laps before handing over to their teammate. The fourth athlete heads for the same finish line used in the individual races.

Paralympic races: swim starts beyond breakwater

The Paralympic course has a different swim start. Athletes in the PTWC, PTS2, PTS3, PTS4, PTS5 and PTVI classes will start from a barge beyond the breakwater and complete one 750m lap.

The bike leg covers three 6.6km laps along the beach path and Venice streets, for approximately 20km in total. A two-lap, 5km run completes the race.

Test event in 2027

Athletes will get a chance to race on the Venice courses before the Games. A World Triathlon T50 Triathlon World Tour event is scheduled there for 16–18 July 2027, giving organisers a test of the routes and race operations a year before the Olympics.

“With less than two years until we host the Games, we’re excited to share more with athletes, fans and our local communities about the dynamic events they will experience in the Venice Beach Zone during the Olympic and Paralympic Triathlon competitions,” said Shana Ferguson, LA28 Chief of Sport and Games Delivery Officer.

“This iconic neighborhood will add another meaningful chapter to its storied history as the first LA28 medals of the 2028 Games are awarded here, with the world’s best athletes taking on courses that showcase the energy, character and beauty of this vibrant beachfront neighborhood.”