The popular mixed team relay triathlon format made its much-lauded Olympic debut in 2021 at the delayed 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. It was, unsurprisingly, a huge success, and became a highlight of not only the triathlon events schedule but also of the entire Olympic Games.
The narrative was helped in large part by two-time individual medallist Jonny Brownlee winning gold for Team GB alongside teammates Alex Yee and Georgia Taylor-Brown – who'd both won silver in the Tokyo individual events – and Jess Learmonth.
That third medal made the younger Brownlee the most successful Olympic triathlete of all time, and also elicited the now infamous line "The Olympics? Completed it."
So in short, as one of the most thrilling sporting spectacles on the planet, the mixed team relay triathlon event presents another opportunity for countries, and its individuals, to medal in an Olympic Games.
How does the mixed team relay triathlon work?
Teams of two men and two women each complete a short-course triathlon (300m swim, 5km bike, 2km run) before tagging off to their teammate to take over.
The format in Paris will be man-woman-man-woman (it was woman-man-woman-man in Tokyo). With its rapid and unpredictable format, it's a winner for athletes, spectators and viewers alike.
When is the Paris Olympic Games mixed team relay triathlon happening?
The Mixed Relay event starts at 8am CET (7am UK time) on Monday 5 August 2024.
Who will be in the Team GB mixed team relay for the 2024 Paris Olympics?
Beth Potter and Alex Yee are the only two GB athletes to have been announced onto the 2024 British Olympic triathlon team, but as two of the fastest runners in the sport their places on the relay team are almost guaranteed.
In the reformatted-duathlon mixed relay at the Paris Olympics Test Event in August 2023, the pair raced alongside Barclay Izzard and Kate Waugh to steer the GB team to silver behind Team Germany.
Note: This piece will be updated as the season progresses and more athletes and teams are announced.
Top image credit: Tommy Zaferes/World Triathlon
