All-around body strengthening and conditioning, in short, will make the athlete stronger from head to toe to push bigger gears and to apply more power in your swim stroke.
The goal is to get stronger while your swim, bike and run training schedule is relatively light and you can afford to hit the weights hard a couple times each week.
The optimal number of times you should weight train is dependant on the time of year, how close you are to your A race, and which training cycle you are in.
A correct strength training program increases strength in the muscles, joints, and connective tissues. This should lead to greater stability and fewer injuries.
Triathlon = Strength?