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Nearly 200 athletes gathered on Türkiye’s historic Gallipoli Peninsula as the 2026 Gelibolu Triathlon, the country’s annual middle-distance championship, got underway across one of the nation’s most symbolic landscapes.
The event was organized by the Türkiye Triathlon Federation, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Presidency of the Canakkale Battles Gallipoli Historical Site under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and several other organizations.
Athletes gathered at the starting point in the former Jandarma Camp to make their final preparations before the race. The start signal was given jointly by Türkiye Triathlon Federation President Bayram Yalcinkaya and Provincial Youth and Sports Director Omer Kalkan.
The course challenged competitors with 1.9 kilometers of open-water swimming, 90 kilometers of cycling, and 21 kilometers of running. This standard middle-distance format tests endurance in all three sports.
Race day started off chilly, with water temperatures below 20°C. Athletes felt the cold at the start, but warmer weather was expected during the run. The peninsula’s changing terrain and weather meant competitors faced different conditions in each stage.
Federation President Yalcinkaya told Anadolu Agency (AA) that interest in the event has grown since it began in 2019. He said the peninsula’s history is central to the race, and that passing by monuments and memorials affects athletes emotionally, giving the competition meaning beyond just sport.
Yalcinkaya, who has raced in the Gallipoli Triathlon before, said the event runs smoothly thanks to strong teamwork among all public institutions involved, including the historical site presidency, the provincial youth and sports directorate, the governorship, the gendarmerie, and the coast guard. He called this cooperation a key reason for the event’s success.
The 2026 Gelibolu Triathlon Middle-Distance Türkiye Championship ended with an awards ceremony for the top finishers in each category. Medals were handed out by Eceabat District Governor Kerem Yenigun, Türkiye Triathlon Federation President Bayram Yalcinkaya, Deputy Head of the Canakkale Battles Gallipoli Historical Site Zulkuf Memis, and Investment Branch Manager Sedat Bektas.
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