Double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee will fulfil a long-time ambition when he lines up for the legendary Norseman Xtreme Triathlon, one of the world’s toughest triathlons, later this year.
His name is on the start list of the 250 athletes who on 1 August will jump from a ferry into the Hardangerfjord at 5am and take on 226 kilometres of swimming, cycling and running across Norway, finishing on top of Mount Gausta.
Since he retired from the sport professionally late in 2024, Brownlee has looked to take in lots of bucket list events – and this one has always been at the top of that list.
‘Excited and nervous’
He said: “I’ve been a triathlete for 30 years, and for 18 of those I was a professional, training to win the biggest races.
“But I’ve always been the child who wants to explore new places, push my limits and discover new sporting communities. Now I’ve got the chance to do that, and the one race at the top of my list has always been Norseman.
“I’m genuinely excited, and slightly nervous, to experience this legendary event.
“I like to tell everyone I don’t compete anymore, I participate. But that’s easier said than done when the horn goes. My goal is to enjoy the race, taking in the scenery.
“I’ll still be going as fast as I can, even if that’s a lot slower than a few years ago. I will enjoy crossing the finish line as much as ever.”
With a similar mindset he still made the podium at Patagonman at the end of 2025.
Men’s field
Among the athletes up against him are Kristian Grue, last year’s victor, and Hans Christian Tungesvik, the winner of the 2019 edition.
“Norseman 2026 will be an exciting edition for everyone following along,” says Grue. “On paper, the start list points to a tight fight at the front. I love this course and I love this race. It’s the most spectacular course out there. And I couldn’t say no to the chance to race a two-time Olympic champion in triathlon.
“My ambition is to beat the 2025 version of myself. If I manage to do so, I think everyone else on the start list is going to have a tough day,” Grue added.
Women’s field
In the women’s field, Kaja Bergwitz-Larsen is one of the favourites, with three previous podium finishes.
“My ambition for Norseman this year is to set a new personal best and do one final attempt at taking the win. This year, I’m not going to race Celtman or Swissman like previous years but instead prepare and focus only on Norseman”, she said.
Nikola Corbova, who won Himalayan XTRI overall in May 2025, will be one for her main rivals on what is her Norseman debut.
What is Norseman?
The first Norseman was held in 2003. The distances match a traditional full-distance triathlon, but steep climbs and harsh weather make this event very different. The race runs point to point, finishing on top of a mountain.
The 3.8km swim takes place in the Hardangerfjord, Eidfjord, and sees athletes jump off a ferry before heading to shore.
The bike winds its way through 180km of rugged terrain and over 3,000 metres of climbing.
The first 25km of the run marathon to round things off goes alongside Lake Tinnsjøen; the final 17 km is a demanding climb from Rjukan to Mount Gaustatoppen — known among athletes as “Zombie Hill”.
The first 160 athletes to reach 37km at Stavsro go on to finish atop Mount Gaustatoppen and earn the black t-shirt. Those arriving later finish on a lower course over the same distance and earn the white t-shirt.
Close to 8,000 people from 100 countries applied for the 250 places in the 2026 race.
