Search
shop

“Pressure makes diamonds” – Jan Frodeno soaking it all in ahead of his ‘Last Dance’ at IMWC23

Jan Frodeno says that "diamonds form under pressure" ahead of his final professional race in Nice.
Staff Reporter
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Jan Frodeno, arguably the best triathlete in the history of the sport, is set to bid farewell to professional racing this weekend at the men’s IRONMAN World Championship in Nice.

The Olympic and multiple IRONMAN World champion, who most recently won the PTO Tour US Open in Milwaukee, will bow out on Sunday with one more shot at a world title at 42 years of age.

Ahead of his final race, Frodeno has soaked up all of the expectation and pressure, something he believes could power him forward to a famous victory.

Advertisement

Pressure the deciding factor

Explaining the importance of pressure in his career, Frodeno says it is the factor which differentiates racing from training, the component which has inspired him for 23 years.

Jan Frodeno T1 PTO European Open Ibiza 2023 photo credit PTO
Jan Frodeno leaves T1 at the PTO European Open [Photo credit: PTO]

“There’s always pressure and I’ve always had pressure, I love pressure and one of my credos has always been that pressure makes diamonds and it is definitely something I relish.” 

“If that pressure didn’t exist then I might as well go climbing around the local streets of Andorra and see if I can get a Strava KOM [King of the Mountain]. It’s quite emotional to be here one last time, to live with that pressure for one final time before retirement.” 

“This is a World Championship, where the strongest of all the guys get together and we all meet up to kick our heads in for eight hours and see who comes out on top. That’s beautiful and it’s dominated my life for the last 23 years.

IMWC Nice move was right call – Frodeno

Discussing the course in Nice and the change in venue from Kona, Frodeno has now changed his view after initially being disappointed by the switch.

“It’s funny because I was here in 2018 and I looked at the 70.3 course and thought, no, this is not for me I’m going to go home.

“Then when I moved to Andorra at the time, it was a rocky concept to try and move to the mountains and get out of my comfort zone and to attack one more time an attempt to get to the pinnacle of the sport.” 

Jan Frodeno IRONMAN 70.3 Andorra 2023
Photo Credit: IRONMAN

“Being here and having gone through that journey, I like the call [to switch from Kona], it’s a really cool venue, there is a lot of history here and the French love their triathlon, because the support is ingrained in the sports DNA here.” 

Tomos Land
Written by
Tomos Land
Tomos Land is a triathlon & running journalist whose expertise lies in the professional world of short course & long distance triathlon, though he also boasts an extensive knowledge of ultra-running.
Discover more
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Is this the ultimate middle distance triathlon bike course? We rode the French Riviera T100 bike course and it’s EPIC
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
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!)
latest News
IRONMAN World Championship 2024 Nice Age Group Swim Start
IRONMAN to review World Championship slot allocation model after fears raised for Age Group women
Jonny Brownlee / Jonathan Brownlee - Super League Triathlon London 2023
Did the Brownlee brothers nearly join pro cycling’s Team Sky after 2012 Olympic heroics?
Kristian Hogenhaug interviewed after The Championship 2025
Danish triathlon star highlights blistering bike split as key to The Championship success.
Alistair Brownlee - T100 San Francisco 2024 bike
Olympic triathlon legend Alistair Brownlee completes iconic Gralloch race in latest gravel test
Jeanne Lehair Beth Potter WTCS Yokohama 2025
From Olympic heartbreak to joy of first WTCS win as emotions flow for Jeanne Lehair
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...