Sam Laidlow has been doing triathlons for 22 years, so when he speaks on how the sport has changed, you listen.
The IRONMAN 2023 World Champion may be struggling to compete this year as he battles health and fitness issues, but he claims the sport has enjoyed a “golden era” for earnings in recent times.
Last year was arguably the busiest ever in terms of racing with the major series events jacking up prize money to encourage the sport’s big names to keep turning up to their start lines.
A golden era, but not too much
It means more earning opportunities for the top level competitors, with British star Kat Matthews for example earning a total of $476,000 in prize money in 2024 after competing in nine races.
To put it into context, the winner of the Tour de France gets to take home €500,000 ($568,000) while F1 World Champion Max Verstappen is estimated to have earned a whopping €75m last year.
But speaking to TRI247, Laidlow said: “We had a golden era in triathlon where there was enough money to be professional. It wasn’t too much money where the athletes themselves were just pawns getting sent out left, right and centre.
“If you look at any other sport like F1 or cycling or football, these guys are competing a lot. There’s 250 days a year you’re not with your family, you’re either racing or at training.
More money, but at a cost
“So, it’s yes they get paid more but at what cost? The F1 drivers have maybe one month of the year off and the rest of the time they’re on the road.
“We had a great balance. Now it’s kind of new to the triathlon community because there’s all these circuits and money, which is great.
“There’s a lot more professionals and kids will be able to watch all these races and be able to say to their parents: ‘I can make money out of triathlon,’ which wasn’t the case when I was young, particularly.
“I’ve been lucky enough to sign some good deals just before these kind of circuits came about, so I can kind of pick and choose.
“And I still think the one-day races have more value long-term than the circuits. But from a financial point of view the circuits are probably the best.”
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