Despite struggling so far in his return to short-distance racing, Kristian Blummenfelt is confident compatriot Gustav Iden has what it takes to compete for gold at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
Blummenfelt, the defending Olympic champion from Tokyo in 2021, has a lot of respect for his team-mate’s ability and believes if he can ‘crack the code’ that stands between him and rediscovering his short course success, he will be a major danger to all in the French capital.”He can be dangerous”
Blummenfelt on Iden Olympic bid
Having failed to break into the Top 30 on the WTCS so far this season, pundits have been quick to dismiss Iden’s chances of success in Paris after dropping down in distance, following a year chasing titles over the full distance.
Blummenfelt though, speaking on the Talking Triathlon podcast (click below to watch the full episode), warns that nobody should be writing his fellow Bergen star off.
“He is extremely motivated for winning that Olympic gold medal. Based on what I have seen in training earlier, like what he did in 2018 and 2019, if he can get back in that rhythm, he can be dangerous, but he also has to crack that code again.
“I think he has been struggling to understand what he has to do to get to that level again, but if he can get into that flow he can be dangerous.”
In 2018 and 2019, Iden enjoyed his most successful patch of short-course racing, winning world cup events in Lausanne and Weihai, as well as twice finishing on the podium at WTCS Bermuda.
Kona proof of Iden brilliance, and potential
Drawing parallels to preparations for last year’s IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Blummenfelt underlined how once Iden gets things nailed down in training, he is close to unstoppable.
“In Kona, I knew that he would be strong. When we did the 40km run the week before, he was bouncing in front of me looking lighter than ever.
“Normally when we are running at intensity I am pulling 90% of the time, but in those two weeks in Kona that turned around and I was drafting on him for 90% of the 40km run and knew it would be a challenge.
“When I got on to the run, my legs weren’t responding as well as they did in St George six months earlier and I knew it was going to be a long run home, it was more like a survival really.”
Both Blummenfelt and Iden are set to race this weekend at WTCS Hamburg, where they will not only tackle the individual event but also attempt to gain crucial points in the Mixed Team Relay as Norway attempt to qualify for their first Olympic Games.
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