Before 1989 and the formation of the International Triathlon Union. If you offered enough prize money and the best athletes in the world showed up. Then why not call your race a World Championship. There was nobody with any authority to tell you not to.

Both The Nice International Triathlon and The Hawaii Ironman were promoted as World Championships from 1982 onwards. But today we’re talking about the self-titled World Sprint Triathlon Championships that took place in Perth, Australia on 17th January 1987.

https://thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/11