Search
shop

Joe Skipper on St George: Going for the win, nobody is unbeatable

Joe pulls no punches as he looks ahead to May 7 in Utah
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

British star Joe Skipper is not heading for St George in May to make up the numbers at the delayed 2021 IRONMAN World Championship – he’s going there to win.

The 33-year-old is full of confidence coming off a stellar 2021 season which included fine victories at IRONMAN UK in Bolton and IRONMAN Chattanooga.

Despite a star-studded field – set to include reigning champion Jan Frodeno and Norwegian superstars Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden among others – Skipper has no doubt that he can upset the big guns in Utah on May 7.

Advertisement

“I’m going there to win”

“I can’t wait for May,” Skipper he said while appearing on the new PTO video The Mighty Will Fall | Joe Skipper: The Dangerous Underdog.

“I’m going there for the win in that race, I don’t think anyone is unbeatable in that race. I can’t wait for May, I’m not messing around.”

Skipper is pleased with his preparation for the big day so far – in fact it has given him even more confidence that he could pull off the upset in early May.

“I’m seeing the best times I’ve ever seen. They should hope that they up their game, because I’ve definitely been upping my game. Everyone is beatable.”

Facing Frodeno

You have to go back to October 2017 to find the last time Frodeno was defeated in a race. Then, hampered badly by injury, he finished 35th behind eventual winner Lange in Kona.

Skipper has no fear of the mighty German though, who is also now 40 years of age.

“If people think that he’s unbeatable, then they should be ashamed of themselves, because there’s no way someone’s unbeatable,” said Skipper.

“You’ve all got to swim. You’ve all got a bike .You’ve all got to run. We all put our pants on one leg at a time.

BOLTON, ENGLAND - JULY 04: Joe Skipper of Britain reacts after winning Ironman UK on July 4, 2021 in Bolton, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
Skipper won in Bolton and Chattanooga in 2021 (Nigel Roddis/Getty for IRONMAN).

“I know when I raced Kona in 2019, I was nowhere near as good as what I am now. This time I’ve been training hard. I’m in the best form I’ve ever been, but we just haven’t had a chance to do it.”

“Someone’s going to beat them at some time, and there’s no reason why it can’t be you. You’ve only got one shot.

“It would just be great to sit down when you’ve retired from sport and you’ve got your kids and you can like, say what was it like winning that race or you know that’s so and say won that race.”

Stuart Dick
Written by
Stuart Dick
Stuart is a graduate of the University of Sunderland with a masters' degree in Sports Journalism. He spends a lot of his time running and cycling around West Yorkshire, England.
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
The PTO's CEO Sam Renouf
PTO reveal ambitions of matching Roth and Kona as French Riviera T100 triathlon course details unveiled
Sam Long St George 2024 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘No No No’ – Sam Long says he felt ROBBED by swim cancellation at ‘69.1 Chattanooga’
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.
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...