Search
shop

Olympic Games Mixed Relay Triathlon: The race for glory

It's finally about to happen - mixed relay triathlon at the Olympic Games - and our John Levison gives his expert verdict on the big race.
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

This is a preview of the Olympic Games mixed relay triathlon at Tokyo 2020 – you can click here for a full report and results on how Great Britain claimed gold.

It’s finally about to happen – Mixed Relay Triathlon at the Olympic Games – the action gets under way at 0730 local time Saturday (2330 BST Friday in the UK).

Since triathlon made its Olympic debut 21 years ago in Sydney, athletes have had only one shot at an Olympic medal in the sport and now, finally, another discipline gets added to the big show.

The first (senior) Mixed Relay event at a major games was seven years ago in Glasgow at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. I remember it well… I was in the commentary box on-site in Strathclyde Park, calling home Team England before that fantastic battle for silver and bronze, between South Africa, Australia and Canada.

Commonwealth Games 2014 Mixed Relay

There’s no doubt that the level of performance, the focus on tactics and the interest in this format has exploded over the past five years, since Olympic status was confirmed. It’s also helped bring triathlon to the casual fan too, with its constant changes and excitement. The athletes love it too, but it will all be business on Saturday July 31 (0730 local time).

Who should you be looking out for?

The leading contenders

France: World Champions in 2018, 2019 and 2020. European Champions in 2018 and 2019. Test Event winners in 2019 and top of the Olympic Qualification Rankings.

It’s fair to say that Team France has been the dominant nation in this format in recent years. Its team looks set to be Cassandre Beaugrand, Leonie Periault, Vincent Luis and then one of Dorian Coninx or Léo Bergere. That’s a very strong line-up. But not an unbeatable one in my humble opinion…

ITU Mixed Relay Triathlon World Championships
World Champions in 2018

Great Britain: The British team knows what it is like to push the French to the limit – the pair were separated by a photo finish in Tokyo two years ago. The result followed what had been a period of pretty average results, given the depth of talent available.

The squad that day was Learmonth / Benson / Taylor-Brown / Yee. With Gordon present as a reserve this time around, Jonathan Brownlee slotting into the #2 slot could quite well be the British team in Tokyo. Yee, certainly, is a better athlete two years on and the same could probably be said for Learmonth and Taylor-Brown too. Alex identified in a recent interview that he thought that the British women were the relay team’s ‘super strength’, and I think he may be right.

Of course, this French team will be stronger – they didn’t have Vincent Luis racing in 2019 – but that additional year, I believe, could be the decisive factor in deciding where that gold medal goes.

Accenture World Triathlon Mixed Relay Nottingham

United States: If timing has helped Great Britain, that might also prove to be the case for stars and stripes. For many years, the U.S. women have been massively outperforming their men in World Triathlon racing, to the point that complete podium sweeps have not been uncommon.

The emergence of Morgan Pearson in particular this year – and he will be joined by Kevin McDowell – should add further strength to a team that will see two from Knibb, Rappaport and Zaferes completing the team. While she’s been off form early in 2021, Katie Zaferes has perhaps been the standout female mixed relay racer for several years now in that #3 position. Strong across the board, if she can put the 62-minute half marathon foot speed of Pearson into the mix ahead of the final leg, it’s game on.

Katie Zaferes / ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Lausanne

Live outsiders

Australia: The Aussies are the only nation to qualify a full complement of athletes – 3 men, 3 women – for Tokyo. Will that allow for some Relay-specific tactics with, perhaps, some athletes ‘rested’ for the Relay? That’s not what World Triathlon want – but frankly, there’s nothing they can do in practice to stop it.

The Aussies are the 2018 Commonwealth Games champions (Backhouse, Hauser, Gentle, Birtwhistle), and while Backhouse was not selected, they have Aaron Royle, Emma Jeffcoat and Jaz Hedgeland to add into the mix. Whatever the combination, I can’t seen them matching France and Great Britain, but the bronze could well be up for grabs.

Commonwealth Games mixed Relay Triathlon

Belgium: The Belgian team won’t have any selection issues – they have four quality athletes qualified – and in Marten Van Riel and Jelle Geens, objectively their strength is on the men’s side. Still, Claire Michel and Valerie Barthelemy are far better than ‘solid’, and Van Riel says he is ‘excited‘ for their prospects. I think they will do well… but a podium position might prove just out of reach.

Mixed Relay Olympic Qualification event Lisbon / Marten Van Riel, Jelle Geens, Valerie Bathelemy, Claire Michel

Olympic Games Triathlon – Mixed Relay Verdict

If we take into account consistency and reliability over an extended period, the French are the favourites. Their three consecutive World Championship wins were achieved with three different lineups, and so it is clear that Les Bleus are very focussed on this discipline.

BUT… basing my selection on head as well as heart, I think this is the time for the Great Britain team to step up and put behind them a few average results in recent years. The additional year, on balance, works in favour of the Brits – and is why I think this race will see Jonathan Brownlee complete his set of Olympic medals with a gold.

To find out what our panel of experts think about the Mixed Relay, you can click here for their picks. They are in form right now – all five picked Flora Duffy for gold in the women’s individual race on Tuesday.

John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
Hayden Wilde bike supertri Boston 2024 photo credit supertri
Premium10 ways to make your road bike faster and more aero for triathlons
Kristian Blummenfelt photo credit: PTO Canadian Open
PremiumIs your gut health impacting your performance? The untapped potential of good gut health for triathletes
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
PremiumHas triathlon reached peak performance? Tri experts and legends on how much faster triathletes could get
latest News
Vincent Luis San Francisco 49ers tri suit 2025
Short-course triathlon great Vincent Luis is OUT of T100 London
Marquardt Hogenhaug Foley IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
‘World Championship level’ – Marquardt says bike bar was raised at Lake Placid
Solveig Lovseth wins IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025 women’s results: Løvseth shows she’s the real deal and next Norwegian superstar
Matthew Marquardt wins IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025 men’s results: Marquardt wins as defending champ EXPLODES on the run
Matthew Marquardt IRONMAN Cairns 2025 Finish Line
WATCH AGAIN: IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025 as Løvseth and Marquardt bag brilliant wins
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...