COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Triathlon, the fastest growing sport in the U.S. Olympic Movement, received overwhelming approval today from the NCAA Division I Legislative Council to be the next Emerging Sport for Women, creating new opportunities within the Olympic pipeline for student-athletes.
 
The vote was 95 percent in favor as announced during the council’s session as part of the 2014 NCAA Convention in San Diego, Calif. Division II and III schools will also be voting on triathlon’s Emerging Sport status later this week. Triathlon will be added as a fall sport, and athletic departments will be able to form teams and compete at the varsity level beginning in August 2014.
 
“Today is a watershed moment for the sport,” said Rob Urbach, USA Triathlon CEO. “After four years of hard work behind the scenes, this announcement represents a huge victory for current and future student-athletes, for the NCAA member institutions that will operate varsity triathlon programs, and for USA Triathlon’s future Olympic success.”
 
“I’d like to personally thank Karen Morrison, Chair of the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics, as well as everyone else who dedicated their time and talents to this cause.”