Health coaching triathlon: A model of involvement in a sports federation

Abstract

Regular physical activity is now considered as a therapeutic per se for sedentary people or those with chronic diseases, and learned societies of sports medicine have developed the man-tra “Exercise is medicine”. However, despite the overwhelming evidence of its benefits on health and prevention of non-com-municable diseases, there is still a gap between scientific data and development of exercise-based prevention program in the general population, or in clinical setting. › The path for the recognition of sports as a major contri-butor to health and wellbeing has been difficult for government authorities, healthcare providers, and federal sports authorities, because of many economical and medical barriers. Awareness and involvement of sports federations may help to reduce those barriers and fill this gap. › Although it’s still often mistakenly considered a su-perhuman sport, triathlon brings together 3 sports disciplines frequently recommended for people wishing to begin regular physical activity, and thus seems to be an interesting choice as a sport for health for most people/patients. After recalling the national sport and health strategy 2019-2024 developed for Paris Olympics, we report here the four steps of the “Health Triathlon program” implemented by the French Triathlon Federation, to illustrate the main framework, the feasibility, first results and benefits for participants of this initiatives.