LA28 Unveils Details of Olympic and Paralympic Triathlon Courses

LA28 has unveiled the first details of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Triathlon courses in the Venice Beach Zone in California.

The loop-style courses will feature scenic routes throughout the historic beachfront neighborhood in Los Angeles, with a singular transition area and a photo-finish backdrop against the Pacific coastline.

The courses have been designed with generally flat bike and run routes, while the single transition area will create a central hub for athletes to return each bike and complete run laps. The finish line for all events will be located at the same site, adjacent to the transition area.

The course designs remain subject to change before the Games begin in July 2028.

Meanwhile, it had already been confirmed that the first LA28 Olympic medals will be awarded in the women’s individual triathlon event on Day One of the Games.

“With less than two years until we host the Games, we’re excited to share more with athletes, fans and our local communities about the dynamic events they will experience in the Venice Beach Zone during the Olympic and Paralympic Triathlon competitions,” said LA28 Chief of Sport and Games Delivery Officer Shana Ferguson. “This iconic neighborhood will add another meaningful chapter to its storied history as the first LA28 medals of the 2028 Games are awarded here, with the world’s best athletes taking on courses that showcase the energy, character and beauty of this vibrant beachfront neighborhood.”

“Venice is excited to welcome Olympic and Paralympic athletes and fans from around the world to one of LA’s most iconic communities — and showcase everything that makes Venice unforgettable,” said Councilwoman Traci Park.

Olympic Triathlon Individual Event — Women’s and Men’s

Event Dates: July 15—16, 2028

Swim: For only the second time in Olympic history, athletes will enter the water from the beach rather than a pontoon. They will then swim two laps, with the first lap covering 1000m before athletes exit the water and run 25m to dive back in for their second, which will cover 500m.

Bike: Athletes will emerge from the water for the second leg of the race and ride along the Venice bike path, looping for eight laps of 5km with two technical turnaround points. Athletes will then return to the transition area as part of the 40km course.

Run: Athletes will run four laps of 2.5km (10km in total) on the same route that will be used during the bike portion along the Venice bike path before meeting the roadways. Athletes will then run over the bridges of the Venice Canals and return to the Transition area before reaching the finish line.

Olympic Triathlon Mixed Relay

Event Date: July 20, 2028 

Swim: The first athlete of the four-person team, alternating in Women-Men-Women-Men order, will start the race from a common starting line along the shoreline before entering the water and swimming one lap covering 350m. On exiting the water, athletes will make their way to the transition area to begin the cycling leg of the event.

Bike: The cycling leg of the race will start from the transition area to the Venice Beach path. Here, athletes will complete two laps of 3.3km (6.6km in total), before returning to the transition area for the final leg of the race.

Run: Athletes will run two laps of 800m (1.6km in total). Following the relay handoff of the first athlete next to the transition area, each subsequent athlete will run to the water to begin their race, and the final athlete of each team will make their way to the finish line.

Paralympic Triathlon Individual Event — Women’s and Men’s

Event Dates: August 18—19, 2028

Swim: Para athletes competing across the six sport classes (PTWC, PTS2, PTS3, PTS4, PTS5 and PTVI) in both the men’s and women’s events will start from a barge positioned beyond the breakwater, swimming one 750m lap before exiting the water and heading to the transition area.

Bike: Para athletes will proceed along the Venice Beach path, then cycle three laps of 6.6km (20km in total) on the Venice streets, with two technical turnaround points, before returning to the transition area.

Run: In the final stage of the race, athletes will complete two laps of 2.5km (5km in total), before reaching the finish line.

LA28 Preparation

As part of preparations for LA28, World Triathlon will host its T50 Triathlon World Tour event in Venice Beach, a city near Los Angeles, from July 16—18, 2027.

The event will give athletes from around the world the opportunity to train and compete on the same courses as those that will be used one year later during the Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games.

It will also serve as an opportunity to assess course performance and operational readiness as LA28 continues to work closely with World Triathlon and other key stakeholders in the lead-up to the Games.

More than 15,000 athletes will compete in the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games, with Los Angeles becoming the third city worldwide to host three Olympic Games in its history. It will also host its first Paralympic Games in 2030.

The next LA28 ticket drop and the first Paralympic ticket drop will both take place next year, after the final general public ticket draw of 2026 closed last month.