Search
shop

Triathlon GOAT Mark Allen sends “great champions” message to red-hot superstar Kristian Blummenfelt

He says the Norwegian has silenced his doubters after a hat-trick of victories this year.
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

When it comes to reaching the top in triathlon, Mark Allen has been there and done that. So when the six-time IRONMAN World Champion speaks, you listen.

And when it comes to the latest big star of the sport, he has spoken.

Allen penned a heartfelt message to Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt this week after the former World and Olympic champion shot to the top of the IRONMAN Pro Series standings by winning IRONMAN Frankfurt.

Advertisement

“Rise from the ashes”

Paying tribute on linkedIn, Allen posted: “Dear Kristian, Great champions have something they all share. It’s kind of a selective deafness.

“Where others bend under the weight of unmet expectations, and what seems at the time like an impossible rise from the ashes, great champions only hear the sometimes quiet confidence that allows them to tune everything but the process out.

Kristian Blummenfelt wins IRONMAN Frankfurt 2025
Kristian Blummenfelt wins IRONMAN Frankfurt 2025 [Photo credit: IRONMAN]

“Injury? Revisit the process. Bad result? Revisit the process. Great champions don’t doubt that they’ll get back, comeback and stay back. Great race. Great champion, and great person. Proud to have you take your place at the top of our sport.”

Big Blu was on top of the world when he won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and then followed that up by being crowned IRONMAN World Champ two years later and winning the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships as well.

Series of setbacks

But the 31-year-old is showing the heart of a champion this year after a series of setbacks in 2024.

A disappointing 12th-placed finish at the Paris Olympics was followed by the crushing blow of a nightmare IRONMAN World Championship in which his chances ended when he projectile vomited on the bike leg.

This year though he has been virtually unstoppable, storming to wins at IRONMAN Texas, 70.3 Aix-en-Provence and IRONMAN Frankfurt, and he has clearly won Allen’s seal of approval for such a remarkable turnaround.

Mark Allen Triathlon IRONMAN World Championship.
Six-time IRONMAN World Champion Mark Allen is a true triathlon legend.

In fact his only blip came at Ironman 70.3 Oceanside when any chance of winning disappeared after he suffered a flat tyre while leading on the bike – and he still managed to make up an incredible 40 places with a quite stunning 1:07:19 finishing half-marathon.

Blummenfelt is quite simply in terrifying form this year and is clearly the one all his rivals are watching, with Oceanside victor Lionel Sanders saying he is “certainly a contender for the world title.’ Right now it’s hard to argue with him!

Kristian Blummenfelt Kristian Hogenhaug Casper Stornes IRONMAN Frankfurt 2025
[Photo credit: IRONMAN]
Paul Brown
Written by
Paul Brown
Discover more
TRI247 podcast p/b Challenge Family episode 2
Go behind the scenes at Challenge Roth with the latest episode of the TRI247 podcast
Cadomotus Chronos triathlon cycling shoes
The triathlon cycling shoe that promises a 10-watt saving: Cadomotus Chronos Aero triathlon cycling shoes review
Challenge Family Roth
Five things you need to know about the Challenge Roth bike course
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!)
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
latest News
Zachary Josie bike
Age-group athlete with dwarfism says INCREDIBLE goal is “in his grasp” at Challenge Roth
Joe Skipper finished fifth at Challenge Roth 2023
Challenge Roth 2025: Triathlon star Joe Skipper comes back from the brink for another shot at iconic race
ironman hamburg 2025 podium laura philipp kat matthews solveig lovseth beer
Challenge Roth 2025: Laura Philipp backed to make triathlon history by crashing through magical time barrier
Challenge Roth press conference 2025
Challenge Roth 2025: Date, start times, how to watch live and who’s racing
Georgia Taylor Brown wins supertri Toulouse 2024
British Olympic legend Georgia Taylor-Brown to make triathlon return
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...