French star Arthur Horseau, sixth when the men’s IRONMAN World Championship was last held in Nice, faces a testing start to the year after a fresh injury setback.

The long-time training partner of 2023 World Champion Sam Laidlow endured a tough 2024, which culminated when he initially ruled himself out of the IMWC at Kona.

He said then: “Physically and mostly mentally, this season has been a real challenge, with a series of misfortunes and pain that have knocked me down at every hurdle. Hawaii represented the light at the end of the tunnel for me, the hope of saving a tough season. But since arriving on the island more than 15 days ago, I have been constantly battling against a body that no longer follows, and I am exhausted.”

However a late change of heart did see him take to the start line, but he was last out of the water and his race would end soon after. And that’s the last time he was in action, though at least now he knows what the current issue is.

Arthur Horseau on injury misery

Writing on Instagram he explained: “The past few weeks have been a real test, both physically and mentally.

“Back pain has brought me back a few years, and the tests confirmed what I feared: the same results as four years ago; a hernia and multi-level discopathies. After an already challenging season [in 2024], this is obviously not the news I was hoping for.

“But in hindsight, I realize that every obstacle hides an opportunity. New paths are opening up to me, solutions that I may not have considered back then. I am convinced that I can make significant progress, as long as I adapt my approach and remain patient.

“The season will start a little later than planned, but one thing is for sure: my determination and the desire to challenge myself remain intact.”

Top 25 in the world

At his best Horseau has shown he is a force to be reckoned with.

In that 2023 season he won IRONMAN Lanzarote and Embrunman before that sixth place in Nice, all of which saw him rise to number 22 in the world rankings.

Last year saw him start the campaign with a wildcard for T100 Miami and then finish second at IRONMAN Austria but his struggles after that – with three DNFs out of four – have seen him slip to #424 in those PTO standings.

We wish him well with his recovery.