Maribor Stories: Triathlon tells a humorous tale about a supposedly home-grown Maribor sporting discipline. The story begins on the left bank of the Drava near the Studenci Footbridge, where its imaginary participant sets off on foot past Koblar Bay towards Maribor Island. Although the word triathlon suggests three sporting disciplines, the local version has a rather different meaning.
In an older version, the participant supposedly swims across the Drava to avoid paying admission to the island's swimming pools. The original account makes clear that crossing the river this way is dangerous. The alternative version involves reaching the island by the usual route, followed by a swim at the outdoor swimming complex.
The final stage provides the joke's twist: instead of cycling on their own bicycle, the participant takes someone else's parked bike and rides home. This is a satirical anecdote about bicycle theft, not an actual sports event or a suggested route. Part of Vid Kmetič's Maribor Stories collection, it reflects the city's taste for irreverent local humour.