He may be the current IRONMAN World Champion, but Casper Stornes is not about to let his lofty new position as the sport’s leading man go to his head.
Having cruised to victory on the French Riviera last month, the Norwegian has seemingly already moved on, both in terms of his physical condition and with his mental fortitude.
Indeed, compatriots and colleagues Gustav Iden and Kristian Blummenfelt – who helped him to complete that historic Norse clean sweep in Nice – are also now looking on to the next challenge as the trio begin to crank up their self-designed training regime once again.
Building back to full fitness
While steadily building his body back up to full fitness after giving it his absolute all in that heroic title-clinching display, Stornes is also working on keeping his mind and emotions on a level but firm footing.
In a new video recently posted on his YouTube channel, the new World Champion answers a series of questions which have been submitted by his followers. It is a Q&A that offers a fascinating glimpse into the life and thoughts of a 28-year-old athlete who has suddenly seen all of his dreams come true at once.
Revelations range from how he struggled to sleep after the big win due to a sore that had developed on his chest during the race, to how he has already started light training once again with his colleagues. He also explains that he is still not 100 per cent certain that he will compete in the 2028 LA Olympics, and that in the build-up to Nice, all he was thinking about was how to beat friend and rival Blummenfelt.
But perhaps the most fascinating part of the 24-minute video – which has been embedded into this story below – was the short section where he explained where he has put his winner’s trophy since returning home from the south of France a matter of weeks ago.
“I can show you it,” he says, as he gets up off the sofa and walks into a smaller spare room before opening up a large drawer filled to the brim with what we soon realise are his race mementoes.
There is no grand display cabinet to showcase his prizes; for Stornes, the idea is to keep them locked away, out of sight and out of mind, as he looks to fuel the desire for success that continues to burn away inside of him.
The same Casper as before Nice
“Usually, I don’t like to show much of my trophies. I am not too eager; I like to just put them away. I get reminded of it so much,” he adds, picking out the trophy and his bib from Nice.
“So usually I put all my trophies in here. I have some medals here from finishing IRONMAN events and some from short-distance events. I put it all in here, more for my mentality, like… be hungry.
“I feel like I am the same Casper as I was before Nice. I don’t feel I will change anything; it’s just what changes in terms of the opportunities. Nothing gets more attention than winning the World Championship.”
Stornes also explains his decision to join Iden and Blummenfelt in their self-coached training schedule, stating that he was ‘not completely happy’ before and that he felt it was the right time in his career to ‘take more responsibility for my own development and for my own motivation’.
It was a move that he says has taught him a great deal about himself and his body, explaining that he has a much clearer idea now of when he is in need of rest and when he knows he can push on with confidence.
The three Norwegians will soon be heading out for some altitude training ahead of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in Marbella on Sunday, November 9, with Stornes happy to confirm that their bond is stronger than ever.
“I would also have been very happy had the podium places been the other way around,” he admitted. “Just to be on a podium in the World Championships in my first event would have been great, but to do it with Gustav and Kristian, that was just so special.
“But it’s always something within you that tells you that you want to be the best, you want to be on that top step of the podium. When I crossed the finish line and we gave each other a hug and congratulated each other, they were both like, ‘I’m so happy for you… You are a World Champion’.
“I felt, and have continued to feel, that they’re really happy for me. And that’s been a really good feeling. We see each other quite equally, and I think nothing will change at all. That I feel very calm about.”
Already thinking about Kona
And predictably, for this trio of ultra-professionals and ultra-planners, thoughts have already started to turn towards next year’s calendar, especially a completely different kind of challenge on the Big Island of Kona.
“Kona is going to be so special, and I need to do a lot of things right to take the world title again,” he admits. “I know it’s going to be hard. It’s a new course. I haven’t raced there before, but I am really motivated for the road ahead.
“I will for sure try to aim for the [IRONMAN] Pro Series. I don’t know the plans yet. It would be a plan to get with Gustav and Kristian to see what they are motivated to do, and my plan is to go with the team, targeting the same races and seeing how the season goes.”
No matter what the schedule is for 2026, there is little chance of Stornes allowing himself to get too carried away with his burgeoning success. However, should he continue to impress and win even more medals and trophies, then he is going to need a bigger drawer to put them all in.
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