Search
shop

Ambitions and dreams power Sam Laidlow to Kona podium

"I'm just getting started" said Sam Laidlow after a fantastic second place at the IRONMAN World Championship
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Could anything stop the Norwegian hype train? He couldn’t ultimately prevent Gustav Iden from topping the podium on Saturday at the return of the IRONMAN World Championship to Hawaii, but Sam Laidlow produced the performance of a lifetime.

At 23, there’s more to come too, for the Frenchman who split the boys from Bergen to take second place in Hawaii.

It was an incredible display. He was only pipped to the fastest swim by the fast feet of Florian Angert on the exit stairs. He followed that up by shattering the bike course record. He then proved it was more than a case of ‘bike for show’, as only Iden could catch him – and it took 36km and a 2:36 marathon to do it.

Advertisement

Inspired by Frodeno

Laidlow, not surprisingly, was filled with emotion when he spoke to Mike Reilly shortly after his incredible display.

“I was just loving it to be honest. I’ve been dreaming of this since I was four or five, so be leading the race till what, 35 or 36k of the marathon, is something special.

“It’s just my style of racing. I’ve been inspired by especially this guy, Jan [Ed. Frodeno], who has come to watch. It’s truly amazing the way he races and how dominant he is. The day I do win I want to lead in like he does. I’m just getting started.”

sam-laidlow-kona-2022-bike-2
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

Family affair

Coached by his father, Richard, Sam was quick to praise the full Laidlow clan for their support:

“It’s hard to believe. I’ve been watching the Norwegians, like everybody here, and to be within two minutes of Gustav and beat the Olympic champion, honestly I can’t put words on it.

“I really want to thank my dad, my mum and my brother, because they’ve believed in my crazy ambitions.”

John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Let’s race… French Riviera T100
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
Gustav Iden aero position body rocket
How to get better at holding your time trial position – Expert tips from former PRO time trial cyclist Alex Dowsett
SunGod FORTY2s running sunglasses review
First look at the NEW SunGod FORTY2s running sunglasses – TRI247 Review
latest News
Mark Walford Charity Triathlon Record Attempt Dementia
Care home worker bids to complete 24 triathlons in 24 hours in epic dementia charity challenge
Laura Philipp on the bike at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship, Nice
Triathlon superstar Laura Philipp’s new IRONMAN world record was powered by DOUBT
Heather Jackson (USA) - 2nd at IRONMAN Lake Placid 2022
Triathlon star Heather Jackson is taking on the ultimate ‘crazy’ challenge in trail running’s Kona
Mark Allen Triathlon IRONMAN World Championship.
Triathlon GOAT Mark Allen just gave this AMAZING speech and college students loved it
Lucy Gossage Winter Spine Race 2024
Triathlon star and doctor Lucy Gossage hails new research which says exercise is medicine in the fight against cancer
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

Share to...