Elevate Your Swim Safety: World Triathlon Bans Nails, Jewellery, Watches in Major Rules Shake-Up

In the dynamic world of triathlon, the rules are evolving to enhance safety and fairness, particularly during the swim segments of competitions. Recently, World Triathlon announced a series of significant updates to its competition rules, set to take effect on February 27, 2025. These changes, approved by the Executive Board after thorough reviews by the Technical Committee and input from various stakeholders, aim to minimize risks and ensure a level playing field for all participants.

One of the most notable changes is the ban on long nails, jewelry, and watches during the swim. This decision stems from the need to prevent injuries during this intense part of the competition. Specifically, athletes will need to keep their fingernails and toenails short to be authorized to start the race. Watches, generally prohibited, may be allowed at the discretion of the Head Referee under certain conditions.

This new regulation primarily applies to Elite, U23, and Junior races over standard distances or shorter. Age Group racing will continue under the existing guidelines, with some adjustments. Jewelry, which previously might have been allowed based on a case-by-case assessment, will now face a blanket ban across all races, removing any ambiguity about what is deemed safe.

Further strengthening the rules, World Triathlon has introduced harsher penalties for aggressive behaviors like dunking, punching, scratching, or kicking during the swim. Such actions will not only lead to disqualification but may also be escalated to the World Triathlon Tribunal for potential suspension or expulsion.

In addition to safety measures, the updates address environmental concerns and competition integrity. The standards for acceptable water quality have been relaxed to accommodate more natural water bodies, while drafting penalties have been revised to ensure a more balanced competition. The mixed relay format will revert to the sequence used in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: woman-man-woman-man, promoting gender balance and strategic team planning.

These rule changes reflect World Triathlon's commitment to evolving with the sport, prioritizing athlete safety, and maintaining the integrity of competitions. As we look towards major events like the Paris 2024 Olympics and beyond, these updates are expected to influence how athletes train and compete, ensuring that triathlon continues to be a challenging yet safe sport for everyone involved.