Search
shop

Blummenfelt targets ‘a stand-out performance’ on Kona bow

He's won everything else in the last 12 months - now Kristian Blummenfelt is aiming to cap it off at Kona this week
News Director
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

As we discovered in the first part of our in-depth interview with reigning IRONMAN World Champion Kristian Blummenfelt, he’s not a man who rests on his laurels.

He’s had an unprecedented 12 months in the sport of triathlon but on Saturday he bids to triumph on his first appearance at Kona – and we could be set to witness another very special performance.

“It’s cool because a lot of the races I’ve done, I would say at least the last couple of years, I’ve been going back to places I’ve been before.

“But this is completely new destination for me – a new course, everything is new. So I definitely want to put in a performance that stands out.”

‘A battle we’d looked forward to’

Before we chatted about who he sees as his main rivals this weekend, the Norwegian megastar admitted that he wished a certain Jan Frodeno, who is out through injury, was also lining up alongside him.

Like Blummenfelt, Frodeno took the long course world by storm after transitioning from Olympic gold and Kristian told us: “Of course it’s a big shame that Jan’s not in Kona. I think that’s a battle at least myself and Gustav had been looking forward to.

“Jan’s really changed the sport. He’s been in it for 14 years since he won the Beijing Olympics and I’ve actually never been able to race against him – he’s that generation above me and that was really a race I was looking forward to. But hopefully we can make it work out next year somehow because I do want to have that battle against him.”

Stronger together

Kristian Blummenfelt Sub7 close up photo credit CADEX
[Photo credit: CADEX]

When asked to nominate those who he thinks will push him the most, it was training partner, great friend and fellow Norwegian Gustav Iden who, not surprisingly was top of the list, Kristian saying: “There’s no Jan, but beating Gustav and others is still going to be a really tough challenge.”

Of course Blummenfelt and Iden know everything about each other and Kristian smiled as he said: “I have the inside numbers from one of the best – or let’s say the second best – in the world. I can use that to improve myself and you can use my numbers and my experience to improve him.

“And together we can just kind of rise above the rest. And I think that has been the key that we both really enjoy each other’s success and also we appreciate the fact that we don’t have to do all the training ourselves. Because the journey is, I would say, as important as just winning the races.

“I think it gives us both confidence that when we get to the races it feels like a training session almost.”

Great Dane has earned respect

But away from Iden, there was also huge respect for Denmark’s Magnus Ditlev, with Big Blu adding: “And you have Magnus right there after his performance at Challenge Roth.

“I think he’s also tactically clever and isn’t a guy you can just take advantage of. He knows his skills and how to play his cards right.

“So I just better have the swim of my life to be in that first pack and then have everything under control from the beginning of the bike.”

“Gustav and Magnus are the main two at the moment, I expect them to be the two toughest guys to beat. Although you never know with Patrick Lange on Hawaii. He has his killer run on the island.

“Maybe Lionel [Sanders] is just missing that top, top performance, but he can definitely be contending for a podium spot.

“And we met up with Joe Skipper in Font Romeu – they’re a good group of guys and I was quite impressed with his performance at IRONMAN Wales.

“But hopefully I have a decent gap on him out of the water and then he needs to catch me on the bike before the run and hopefully that will take more out of his legs.”

And while Kristian clearly doesn’t expect Skipper or Sanders to be challenging him at the business end of the race on Saturday, he does have a lot of respect for what they’re doing to take the sport to a wider audience.

He told us: “It’s good to have colourful characters like you have with Joe and Lionel, plus also Sam [Long]. They put their head out there in social media and it just makes it more interesting.

“That was almost my biggest problem in the beginning when I raced long distance. I didn’t really know a lot of the guys I was racing against. I only knew the guys who had an active YouTube channel or Instagram. So I think it’s good for sports and makes it more interesting for people to watch.”

Trusting the science

Kristian Blummenfelt Sub7 celeb photo credit CADEX
Bu also helped mastermind Kristian’s successful Sub7 bid [Photo credit: CADEX]

Ultimately though it’s clear that Kristian believes the Norwegians are in pole position – and a large part of that is down to the science which has been masterminded by their coach Olav Aleksander Bu, something we’ll be looking at in more detail between now and race day.

“I think the biggest difference from us and our team to the rest is that we have all the numbers and the science on our side,” explained Blummenfelt, adding that he believes that will make up for their lack of Kona experience.

“I think that could save us a few years of experimenting with different things here in order to nail it correctly. I think the biggest difference is Olav’s understanding of exactly what’s required to be able to perform eight hours in the humidity.

“Whether that’s monitoring core temperature, or cooling and the heat strategies. We also did a lot of testing going into the Olympics in Tokyo, I think we should be fine.”

Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
Laura Siddall Challenge Roth 2025 finish line
PremiumLaura Siddall: 10 things I’ve learned from my professional triathlon career
Ruth Astle finishing IRONMAN Vitoria 2024
PremiumHow to cope with a DNF: Elite athletes share their stories
PremiumIs your evening workout routine wrecking your recovery? Expert physiologist on how to improve recovery and what NOT to do
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
03/07/2025 - Tour de France 2025 - Grand départ Jour 2 - Lille - Présentation des équipes -Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike)
PremiumWhat triathletes can learn from the Tour de France pro peloton
latest News
Dan Lorang Head of Performance BORA - hansgrohe
Touching and heartfelt tribute from Anne Haug’s coach after she announces triathlon retirement
Sam Long - T100 San Francisco 2024 bike
‘No No No’ – culture shock and bike crash for American star Sam Long in Italy
Georgia Taylor Brown wins supertri Chicago 2024 photo credit supertri
Georgia Taylor-Brown on enjoying her busy “year off” and wanting “to go out on a bit of a high”
challenge roth race ranger
Challenge Roth publish RaceRanger anti-drafting data from both pro races in a first for triathlon
Sam Laidlow celebrates Challenge Roth win 2025
IRONMAN Leeds 2025: Date, start time and how to follow live
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...