Gustav Iden pens beautiful tribute after his mother loses her brave battle against cancer

Editor-In-Chief

Gustav Iden has paid a beautiful tribute to his mother after she lost her long and brave battle against cancer on Monday.

The Norwegian IRONMAN World Champion announced the tragic news on his Instagram account as stars of the sport responded with messages of love and support.

Sometimes sport, and medals, and race wins, have very little meaning – and the grim reality that life really is not fair hits brutally home. This is just one such moment, as Gustav so eloquently emphasised.


‘I am one of the luckiest’

He wrote: “Life is unfair, but I am one of the luckiest. I was born to the best parents, in the best country, in the best time to be alive. Even when my mother was diagnosed with cancer two years ago I felt somehow lucky. Lucky because I have had the opportunity to truly love someone enough to feel as sad as I did. Today my mothers luck ran out. Our family was gathered around her as she peacefully passed away after a long, long battle against the cancer.”

Gustav explained how difficult the last two years have been – racing at the highest level around the world while his mother fought even harder battles back in Bergen.

The hardest battles

“I’m not feeling lucky at the moment. It has been really hard to try to live a high performance life and race around the world when the hardest battles have been fought at home. For now I’ll take some time off with the family. Don’t know when I will be back. Elsker deg, Mamma ❤️”

Our thoughts at this awful time are with Gustav and his family.

Graham Shaw
Written by
Graham Shaw
Graham has been involved with TRI247 & RUN247 since the summer of 2021. Since then he has provided strategic direction for all news and is passionate about the growth of triathlon as a fan sport.
Latest News
Hayden Wilde WTCS Grand Final Pontevedra 2023
Hayden Wilde reacts to agonising world title miss after a dramatic day at WTCS Finals Pontevedra
Alex Yee WTCS Pontevedra 2023
WTCS Pontevedra 2023 results: Full finishing order and times as Yee and Wilde endure agony
Dorian Coninx, Tim Hellwig, Pierre Le Corre - World Triathlon Championship Finals Pontevedra
2023 WTCS Finals Pontevedra Men’s Results: Coninx takes the win and the world title
Grace Norman - World Para Triathlon Championships Pontevedra 2023
World Paratriathlon Champs 2023 results wrap from Pontevedra
Daneil Baekkegard finishing second at IRONMAN 70.3 Dubai 2022
Daniel Baekkegard battling mystery illness as Dane races against time for Australian goal