Sam Long credited “the best crowd I’ve had anywhere in the world” for helping him to a course-record time at IRONMAN 70.3 Pucón.

The American star began his 2024 campaign in perfect style with a dominant win – assuming control as he took over six minutes out of the field on the bike to become the only man to dip under two hours.

And despite a broken watch strap early on the run, which meant it stayed in his back pocket thereafter, he paced the half marathon superbly and spurred on by the the locals clocked a best-of-the-day 1:14 for an overall time of 3:46:31 and a new course best.

‘Finding a way to get it done’

Speaking afterwards he said: “That might have been the best crowd I’ve had anywhere in the world. To be honest, I knew I had the win, but the people of Chile kept telling me, ‘go after the course record’.

“When you’re that far ahead, it’s easy to let up but the people pushed me to my limit all the way to the end.”

Writing later on Instagram, the ‘Big Unit’ added: “Winner winner! Very stoked to take the win here at 70.3 Pucón! Thank you to Chile for being such an encouraging place and congrats to @luciano_taccone and @_martinulloa for 🥈 and 🥉!

“The preparation was hard, the race was hard; everything hasn’t come easy but I am constantly adapting and finding a way to get it done.”

Long won three 70.3 races in 2023 and revealed recently that middle-distance will be his focus this season, especially the PTO Tour events which are set to be announced in full in the coming weeks.