Search
shop

Triathlon superstar Sam Laidlow opens up on the health issues threatening his 2025 season

The 2023 IRONMAN World Champion keeps breaking down in training
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Sam Laidlow has told fans he is struggling to return to full fitness and is still feeling the effects of his epic blowup at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship in Kona.

The Bedfordshire-born French triathlete watched victory snatched away from him in Hawaii by Germany’s Patrick Lange and admits he has not been the same since.

Laidlow – “a really bad start to the year”

In a downbeat Instagram post, Laidlow revealed that he keeps breaking down in training and that he is battling “some illnesses and some health issues” as he tries to build towards his 2025 campaign.

Laidlow, who announced his race schedule for the coming year just last month with IRONMAN South Africa on March 30 his first big target, wants to win back his IRONMAN world title this year. He claimed the title on home soil in Nice in 2023 before blowing up on the run in Hawaii last October.

Sam said: “This last month and a bit has been flipping terrible. Some illnesses and some health issues. It’s just been a really, bad start to the year. Hopefully we can turn it around and have a great season.

“But it’s been over a month where pretty much every day I go for a run and I have to come to a stop after about five minutes. Same in the pool. Same on the bike. We don’t really know what’s up.

“I’ve been trying to get to the bottom of it but in reality I haven’t really been myself since Kona.”

Sam Laidlow IRONMAN 2024 World Championship Kona Finish
Sam Laidlow at the finish of the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship in Kona (Photo – Mark Allen).

Vowing to come back strong

Laidlow’s 2024 season ended early after Kona when he suffered a hamstring tear which forced him to miss the T100 Grand Final in Dubai. But he has vowed to come back strong and make it back to the top despite his latest setback.

Laidlow said: “My goal isn’t to spread a load of negativity and tell you how bad my life is, because that’s not the case.

“I just feel that I owe some honesty to the people that follow me and to show that we’re all just human. This month has been pretty sh*t but we’ll make it back to the top.”

Paul Brown
Written by
Paul Brown
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
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
Hayden Wilde bike supertri Boston 2024 photo credit supertri
Premium10 ways to make your road bike faster and more aero for triathlons
Kristian Blummenfelt photo credit: PTO Canadian Open
PremiumIs your gut health impacting your performance? The untapped potential of good gut health for triathletes
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
PremiumHas triathlon reached peak performance? Tri experts and legends on how much faster triathletes could get
latest News
Georgia Taylor Brown Santa Vall gravel race 2025 photo credit Santa Vall and Gravel Earth Series
Kate Waugh and Georgia Taylor-Brown among strong British line-up at T100 London
Triathlon superstar Hayden Wilde to make shock comeback at London T100
Lionel Sanders wins 70.3 St George 2025 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘Intimidating’ to go into Worlds after four months off – but Lionel Sanders up for the challenge
Georgia Taylor-Brown Alex Yee Super League Triathlon Malibu 2021
Triathlon’s most decorated Olympic duo now honoured by their former University
Olav Aleksander Bu Photo credit: Roj Ferman | Surpas
Top triathlon coach Olav Aleksander Bu says it’s all about the team after Uno-X bag first Tour de France win
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

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...