Gold medals to be awarded: 2

Dates of competition: Aug. 18-19

This will be the third Olympics for triathlon, the grueling combination of swimming, cycling and running.

Competitors from New Zealand won both the gold and silver medals in the men's event in Athens and Katherine Allen of Austria claimed the women's title.

Of the 12 medals awarded in this sport over the past two Games, only one has gone to an American. Susan Williams won the bronze in Athens.

There are expected to be 55 entrants in both the men's and women's events. A nation is limited to three men and three women in the triathlon and only Canada, Switzerland, New Zealand, Germany and the United States will send the maximum number of triathletes to China.

American Julie Swail Ertal will be a member of her second Olympic team. She won a silver in 2000 as part of the United States water polo squad.