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 -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

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.

Advertisement

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
Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT 3 navigation and colour display
Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT 3 GPS bike computer review
Best triathlon swim courses – our top 10 triathlons for an epic start to race day
triathlon swimming open water
“Triathletes shouldn’t kick during the swim” and other triathlon swimming myths- BUSTED by an expert swim coach
SunGod FORTY2s running sunglasses review
First look at the NEW SunGod FORTY2s running sunglasses – TRI247 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
Pieter Heemeryck IRONMAN Portugal Cascais 2023
Top triathlon star on the way back after being ‘frozen up with fear’ following horror bike crash in New Zealand
Alistair Brownlee Olympic Games Rio 2016
Olympic triathlon legend Alistair Brownlee remembers his life-changing first big goal
Lucy Charles-Barclay IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman 2025 Finish Line
Triathlon superstar Lucy Charles-Barclay reveals her race strategy after stunning IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman win
Sam Long IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman 2025 Finish Line
Sam Long says IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman win was a family affair as they inspired huge win
Olivia Mathias supertri London run 2024 photo credit Darren Wheeler supertri
British triathlon star Olivia Mathias is believing again after first WTCS podium put confidence struggles in the past
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...