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Astronaut Sunita Williams Completes Triathlon in Space

Astronaut Sunita Williams just became the first person to complete a triathlon in space.


Running, biking, and “swimming” along with athletes back on Earth who were participating in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon in Southern California 240 miles below, the U.S. commander of the Expedition 33 crew on the International Space Station crossed the orbital finish line with a time of 1:48:33. Williams used exercise equipment, including a stationary bike, treadmill, and a strength-training machine to simulate the swimming portion of the race.

An accomplished athlete, Williams had previously run the Boston Marathon during her last stint on the space station in 2007.

NASA applauded Williams’ triathlon, noting that exercise is a big part of the astronauts’ daily routine. Without it, muscles and bone begin to deteriorate in the weightless environment.