Topics: Triathlon and general health across the lifespan, medical problems in competition, the specific case of open-water swimming, heat illness/ acclimation, maximising health and safety in triathlon competition, key messages that our expert panel suggest are particularly important for triathletes to take home from the IOC consensus statements, and our TOKYO SPECIAL: How to prepare for the 2020 Olympic Games.

Roundtable Discussion: What are the key things that athletes and coaches must know with regard to training/competing over different distances and in different environmental conditions?

We shall be presenting what are likely to be the most up to date and most detailed research data yet available on how triathletes within the different age-groups train, and their key risk factors for maladaptation - as evidenced by injury and illness- on Day 2 of the conference. Unpublished research data from National Squad athletes and from ITU sprint and Olympic distance World Championship age group athletes, will be brought together. The data will be used both to show how the relative influence of risk factors for maladaptation may change with age and event distance specialisation and as the basis of informed discussion of what to do about it, especially when an athlete moves up in event distance focus.

Optimising training and race preparation- at the cutting edge

Topics: what can scientists tell coaches, what do coaches want from and tell scientists, what is the athlete’s perspective, electronic innovations in training, monitoring and maladaptation – at the forefront of both training diary related research and technology.

Roundtable discussion - how does the influence/importance of different risk/health/performance related factors change with race distance and how can we best use this knowledge, as well as advances in technology, to optimise performance?