Triathlon participation in Great Britain is moving in the right direction again, according to the Triathlon Industry Alliance’s (TIA) 2025 Triathlon Participation Analysis Report.
Shared with TIA members, the latest research paints a cautiously optimistic picture for the sport. After a turbulent few years, 2025 delivered a welcome return to growth, with more than 120,000 athletes actively racing across the country. While that figure still sits below the highs recorded in 2019, it marks a meaningful rebound following a dip in 2024.
A different landscape post-pandemic
Despite the upturn, participation remains around 28,000 athletes short of pre-pandemic levels. Rather than a full return to previous norms, the data suggests the sport has settled into a reshaped environment.
The triathlon event landscape has undergone notable change in recent seasons. Acquisitions, portfolio streamlining and strategic consolidation have reduced the number of operators and events in some areas. The result is a leaner ecosystem—one that industry stakeholders describe as more focused and potentially more resilient, even if it looks different from the pre-2020 market.
Signs of momentum building
There are further positive signals heading into 2026. Event organisers are reporting strong early registrations, with growth being driven in part by first-time participants and a younger demographic entering the sport.
This influx of newer, younger athletes is seen as particularly significant. Beyond simply boosting participation numbers in the short term, they represent a pipeline that could underpin the sport’s longer-term stability and growth.
Key growth priorities
The TIA report also highlights several areas of strategic focus for the years ahead:
- Bringing runners into multisport: With a large and active running community in the UK, converting single-sport athletes into triathletes is viewed as a major opportunity to expand the participation base.
- Lowering the average age: Engaging younger athletes is essential to counterbalance a historically ageing profile within the sport.
- Improving gender balance: Increasing female participation remains a significant growth lever as the sport continues its push toward greater inclusivity.
- Expanding charity engagement: Strengthening the fundraising and charity dimension of triathlon could unlock new audiences while enhancing the sport’s wider social impact.
Recalibration, not just recovery
The 2025 data suggests British triathlon is transitioning from recovery to recalibration. Rather than simply aiming to reclaim lost ground, the industry is being challenged to reshape participation in a way that is more diverse, younger and sustainable over the long term.
The 2025 Triathlon Participation Analysis Report was compiled by MultiSport Research on behalf of the TIA and is available exclusively to TIA members as part of their membership benefits package.
