Diversity in Triathlon – the bottom line
Triathlon is often cited as being one of the most welcoming and inclusive sports participants have experienced, but can it extend further?
Everything in the sport appears to show the triathlon is trying to be more inclusive. Look at any triathlon organisations website and somewhere will be a promotional or policy display of equality, diversity and inclusion. As a participant in the sport, I would be the first to jump to the defensive in saying that these triathlon organisations mean it. However, maybe we would be better served reflecting on whether triathlon can pragmatically improve its attraction.
According to the most recent membership figures from British Triathlon only around 2% of triathletes are Black, Asian and Minority and male-female ratio remains consistent at a 70-30 split. These cultural patterns of marginalisation are not only interrelated, but are bound together and influenced by the intersectional systems of society, such as race, gender, class, and ethnicity. Let’s not beat about the bush, sport in general has been coded masculine for a very long time (white, also). Sport has been tightly grafted to notions of strength, power, and physical prowess, all of which are perceived as masculine traits. Our culture has perpetuated this and its associated traits for generations. What this means is, we unconsciously understand sport as inherently male (often white) activities, even if we individually support female and minorities in sport.
Who was the ‘Worcester Whirlwind’?
Language matters. We all believe and support eradicating racial slurs and homophobic slurs, but how far have we gone to promote language that’s inclusive. Language sends out message of inclusion and exclusion. For example: IRONMAN. This is no accident. This a perfect example of how masculinity and sport are tied together. It informs us that the problem is systemic; it goes beyond the individual. Take the word ‘Diversity’ that’s a good word, right? Of course, it is. It has now become the norm, a coded language, so we can avoid saying what we really mean. No need now to be explicit about who we are talking about, just lump all the groups together and offend no-one. How does that exactly get to the root cause of diversity issues. There is now an elevated level of discomfort when talking about race, gender and culture in sport and we need to get beyond this if we are genuinely going to allow triathlon to evolve into an inclusive space.
Increasing numbers alone won’t create an inclusive environment. To truly diversify triathlon and change its culture, we need everyone at the table, not just the triathlon business tsars. It is our responsibility to unpack historical systems of inclusion and exclusion and understand their continued influence on triathlon today. It is not up to the groups who are excluded to keep knocking at the door. It is not up to athletes of colour to constantly point out the microaggressions they experience in the sport. Nor is it up to women to constantly have to justify why there should be equality. It doesn’t need justification; it should just happen.
Now to ruffle a few feathers, even if it does feel uncomfortable. I am not stating a secret that the vast majority of triathlon leaders are male. The composition of the British Triathlon Board for example has a male-female percentage ratio split of 73/27. Is this an accident? It can’t be because women, are not ‘leadership’ material. Is it worth reflecting that it might be a result of a generational elevation of maleness baked into the sport? We know it is not because men, on the whole, work harder than everyone else. One can only hope that conversation is not stagnating around the boardroom tables from within and outside the triathlon sector about diversity and inclusion with the same people, the same voices, and the same ideas recirculated and repackaged with little input from communities historically excluded from the sport.
Until we can get to the bottom line of the matter – an honest discussion of the legacy of white male and economic advantage in triathlon – we won’t move anywhere as a sport. We cannot shift the culture until we start to have the hard conversations, recognising our own complicity in sustaining systems of exclusion, and vowing to do, and be, better advocates for change. I am also part of the problem, and I am working daily to change the script and find inclusive solutions.
