Sergio Migliorini - Triathlon Medicine

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I am delighted to have been asked to write the foreword for Dr. Sergio Migliorinis comprehensive book Triathlon Medicine , an indispensable reference that reaches right across our sport and into all aspects of this highly technical and demanding world.

Sergios knowledge of physical and rehabilitation medicine is second to none. It is what prompted ITU to choose him as the medical delegate for the London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and preside over the ITU Medical and Anti-Doping Committee and is what makes him such an authority in an endurance sport that will always test the athletes bodies to their limits.

It has been my great honour to have been the International Triathlon Union president since 2008, during which time the sport has enjoyed huge growth and development. Working closely with Dr. Migliorini, the IOC and our National Federations around the world, ITU will always strive to uphold the Olympic values of fair play and equality as it expands into new regions, and it is thanks to the dedication of the experts who have contributed to this book, and the triathlon family as a whole, that we have been able to do so.

Today, the Olympic world is moving forward ever faster, innovating, reinventing and reaching larger audiences than ever before and bringing new generations to discover the sense of achievement, sportsmanship and belonging to a global movement in the way that only sport can do. ITU is proud to be one of the driving forces behind that momentum but is acutely aware of its responsibility towards athletes to keep them safe and healthy and understand the demands of our sport.

For the athletes, coaches, national federations, technical officials and all those who take their tri life seriously, Triathlon Medicin e offers precious insights from specialists in every field, with advice on injury prevention and recuperation, nutrition strategies, race day best practice and much more from those who know the sport inside out.

For everyone who thought they knew everything about this great sport, I would urge you to rethink and read on.

I am honoured with the opportunity to serve as guest editor for the book Triathlon Medicine .

Triathlon Medicine is the culmination of almost 30 years of experience on the field with injuries and conditions of triathletes, working with many sports medicine doctors, orthopaedics, exercise physiologists and researchers.

The cooperation with the ITU Sport Department was very useful to improve the medical assistance of the ITU races during these years, including the Olympic Games, and to continuously update the event rules to have safe races. Triathlon is the most modern of all the endurance sports, and the triathletes experience a range of environmental conditions and physiological demands, depending on the race, that must be taken into consideration when preparing for the race medical assistance.

Combining research perspective with many years of experience practicing in the field, this book offers to sport medicine physicians, orthopaedics, physical therapists, athletic trainers, coaches and officials a comprehensive guide for the evaluation, treatment and prevention of all the overuse and medical conditions and to improve athletes performance protecting also their health. The book contains 26 chapters in which scientific and practical aspects of medicine applied to the triathlon are analysed in depth, including the ITU medical and competition rules. The book addresses in detail the topics of cardiovascular adaptations, overuse injuries, overtraining syndrome, endurance anaemia, nutrition and the physiological aspects associated with the discipline. It provides information on the training and technical aspects on the different triathlon distances. Dedicated chapters also cover issues related to female, young, master and para-triathletes.

It was a pleasure and a privilege to work with this exceptional group of authors, many of whom are considered leaders in endurance sports medicine; they have shared with me the passion for triathlon, transmitting their invaluable practical expertise in this matter. Very special thanks also to the ITU Sport Department and ITU Medical Committee members for their work, dedication and love for this amazing sport.