Search
shop

Kristian Blummenfelt: ‘I want to win Kona this year’

Kristian Blummenfelt is not satisfied with Olympic gold and now has the goal of winning the IRONMAN World Championship at Kona - this year.
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Norway’s new Olympic Triathlon champion, Kristian Blummenfelt completed a 10-year dream when taking the Gold medal at Tokyo 2020 but Big Blu is not one to rest on his laurels and is already back in Norway training with the goal of winning the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii – this year.

That’s not the only world title he has his eyes on either.

Speaking to the Doug Gray on the World Triathlon Podcast (a great listen, do check it out), he also discussed the conclusion of the the Maurice Lacroix World Triathlon Championship Rankings, which will determine the 2021 World Triathlon Champion.

With the Olympic Games being part of the rankings process – controversially in the eyes of some, who weren’t selected – he is now in prime position, courtesy of his win in Yokohama and sixth place in Leeds.

WTCS Yokohama 2021 / Kristian Blummenfelt
Advertisement

Edmonton will be the decider

With three strong results already (as does Alex Yee, courtesy of first (Leeds), second (Tokyo) and fourth (Yokohama)), Kristian does not need to chase points in Montreal in two weeks time (the penultimate race of the series). That doesn’t mean he won’t be busy that weekend.

Reflecting on his prospects of adding a first World Triathlon Championship to his Olympic Gold, he said:

“I think it’s most likely to be between me and Alex, we are ranked one and two… but I also want to win Hawaii this year. In less than three weeks I have to do a qualification, in Frankfurt, then jump on a plane – stay in quarantine for three days – and then hopefully I will be able to recover in time for Edmonton for the Grand Final.

“It’s going to be tough, but I will give it a try. Now I did to get back home, jump on the TT bike and get some long rides in.”

Tokyo 2020 / Podium
Will Blummenfelt and Yee feature on the year-end World Triathlon Championship Series podium?

Media obligations

“It’s going to be a very busy next two weeks, probably some media attention back home after the race now and with the build-up to Frankfurt – while trying to keep a little bit of leg speed for Edmonton the week after. It’s going to be a very tricky balance to both get the training in an recovering enough in between the big sessions.

“Maybe I’ll have to do the interviews while I’m riding! It’s good to showcase the sport back home and try to inspire more young athletes to take up triathlon in Norway.”

Photo Credit: Activ Images

Kristian Blummenfelt and Kona

Winning the IRONMAN World Championship at the first time of asking is historically incredibly difficult. Only Chrissie Wellington (2007) and Luc Van Lierde (1996) have managed to achieve that in the last 25 years. Even today’s legends, and contenders for GOAT status – Jan Frodeno and Daniela Ryf – both finished second at their first attempts on The Big Island.

As for the Olympic Games and IRONMAN, well Frodeno is of course the only athlete to have managed the double (2008 Beijing / 2015/16/19 Kona), with Australia’s Michellie Jones the only other athlete to have medals as both, courtesy of a Sydney 2000 Olympic silver and winning Hawaii in 2006. She was also second in Hawaii in 2005.

Winning both events in the same year would be unprecedented in the sport – and with Jan Frodeno seemingly better than ever – a truly remarkable effort.

Decisions to be made

The world is his oyster, but you would imagine that Kristian will have to sit sit down with his team and make some significant racing and training decisions now. There are even more opportunities available too, including potentially racing the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in St. George, Utah (which he is qualified for!).

With the fastest ever time over the distance, fourth place in Nice two years ago, and a course in Utah that seemingly plays far more to his strengths than the hills of the Alpes-Maritimes, that is perhaps a more realistic (race-winning) target en-route to Hawaii three weeks later.

Photo Credit: Activ Images

What follows in NOT what I believe his full racing schedule will be (even though we know that he loves a race…!), but highlights the complete range of distances and formats that we COULD see Blummenfelt attempting over the next three months.

It will be very interesting to see what stays and what goes, from this smorgasbord of options.

  • August 15 – IRONMAN Frankfurt (confirmed)
  • August 21 – World Triathlon Championship Finals, Edmonton (confirmed)
  • August 28 – The Collins Cup, Slovakia (potential Captain’s pick – would he accept anyway?)
  • September 5 – Super League Triathlon London
  • September 12 – Super League Triathlon Munich
  • September 18 – Super League Triathlon Jersey / WCTS Hamburg / IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship (qualified)
  • September 25 – Super League Triathlon Malibu
  • October 9 – IRONMAN World Championship (confirmed, subject to qualification)

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
TRI247 podcast
What is it really like to be a professional triathlete? NEW TRI247 x Challenge Family podcast takes you beyond the start lines this race season
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!)
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
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
latest News
Challenge Barcelona 2023 - Photo Credit: Jose Luis Hourcade
‘It’s going to be an absolute firecracker’ says Cam Wurf after booking IRONMAN World Champs spot
Maya Kingma Karlovy Vary win 2024
Two-time Olympic triathlete joins top pro cycling team – and is set to race in Giro d’Italia
Oliver Conway World Triathlon Cuo win Saidia 2025
Breakthrough World Cup win – and Brownlee Racing spot – in memorable week for British youngster
Lionel Sanders wins 70.3 St George 2025 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
Triathlon superstar Lionel Sanders moving again but taking it step by step in injury battle
Magnus Ditlev - T100 San Francisco 2024 run
“I lost it mentally” – Magnus Ditlev reveals why he was shown red card at IRONMAN Frankfurt
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...