PTO World #9 Sam Long was full of praise for the newly created T100 Triathlon World Tour in a recent video on Instagram, as the American star shared his thoughts on the series.
As one of the contracted athletes in the men’s field, Long will race five T100 events plus the soon to be announced Grand Final during the course of the season in 2024.
Drawing on his own experience of racing full distance from a young age, the 28-year-old said this was great for the development of a number of top guys in the sport.
“The best thing that I have seen happen in the sport”
For Long, who revealed that he has raced a remarkable 22 full distance events since embarking on his professional career, the T100 Tour couldn’t come soon enough.
“The T100 Tour is the best thing that I have seen happen in the sport, for someone like me, who is focused on developing the proper way.
“I am 28 years old and I have already done 22 Ironmans. Now why have I done 22 Ironmans? It wasn’t the right developmental pathway.
“I found the sport when I was 18, yes I didn’t know how to swim, we all know that and so I have had to learn how to swim.
“But, at the time I was presented with two options. Either get a job to fund my development and focus on the shorter distances, or do the full distance, get the sponsors, make the prize money and get the accolades that you need, which is what I did.”
“I am just so excited for the year ahead”
Whilst he says he doesn’t regret the choices he made, Long admitted that it wasn’t ideal, but now with the T100, it is a plus that others will not have to follow the same path.
“It allowed me to get where I am. I have no regrets with what I did and then once I did this, when I was established and had the proper revenue streams, I was able to go back, but there has always been that pull of the full distance.
“Now, this year with the creation of the T100, I can say for the first time in my entire career I can focus on the shorter distance.
“I can focus on getting faster. I can race the world class fields and it will set me up for the long term goal in Kona and the best I can possibly be to pursue becoming an IRONMAN World Champion.”
“I am just so excited for the year ahead and I can’t wait to see you all in five weeks in Miami.”
