Wiktionary
n. (context sports English) A contest where four successive events are participated in, usually swimming, kayaking, cycling and running
Wikipedia
A quadrathlon (or quadriathlon, tetrathlon) is an endurance sports event composed of four individual disciplines. All four disciplines are completed in succession and the lowest overall time decides the winner.
The World Quadrathlon Federation defines that a quadrathlon consists of
Sprint Distance
Middle Distance
Long Distance
swimming
0.75 kilometers
1.5 km
4 km
20 km
40 km
100 km
4 km
8 km
20 km
5 km
10 km
21 km
in any order, though usually as above.
The distances, time duration and events depending on the organizing body, the location of the event and the time of year. During the winter months, cross country skiing and snowshoeing may replace swimming and kayaking.
In Great Britain, the governing body is the British Quadrathlon Association (BQA).
The World Quadrathlon Federation has stated aim is to provide and promote International awareness for the sport of Quadrathlon. "Quadrathlon adds flatwater kayaking to the sport of triathlon to create a balanced test of fitness."
The event is extremely intense, and requires training before entering. People who have entered the event have commented on the strain it puts on the body after each interval, "My calves were so tight each step ricocheted through my body... By then I just wanted to be done" female competitor Domity Mcdowell wrote. The competitors that complete the Quadrathlon are usually also involved in events such as the triathlon, biathlons and marathons. Danelle Ballengee, a professional female athlete who has competed in multiple events claims she "just loves a challenge".