Breakout triathlon star hit by ‘devastating’ injury news in blow to T100 hopes

Up-and-coming triathlon star Laura Madsen has been hit by ‘devastating’ injury news which threatens to derail the start of a huge 2025 season for the Dane.

Signed up to compete in the PTO’s T100 tour, Madsen had a breakout year in 2024 and was tipped to continue her upward trajectory this sesason, having been dubbed ‘one to watch’ by World Triathlon.

But racing will now have to take a back seat for the 22-year-old, who took to social media to share the unfortunate news.

“Devastating news” for Laura

“Not the start of 2025 I had hoped for,” Madsen shared in an Instagram post.

“Just received the devastating news that I unfortunately have a stress fracture in my sacrum.

“This season was meant to be filled with lot of exciting and motivating races, but right now the focus is on getting 100% healthy again and then racing will come!

“Luckily I am surrounded by some amazing people who keep the spirits high!”

The sacrum sits at the back of the pelvis and connects the coccyx (tailbone) with the spine. A sacral fracture usually takes six to 12 weeks to recover from, meaning Madsen’s injury is at least set to keep her out of contention for the first PTO T100 race at Singapore in early April.

Breakthrough 2024 for Madsen

Having only become professional in 2023, Laura burst onto the scene in 2024 to become one of the most exciting young talents in triathlon.

The Dane was signed up as a wildcard for the inaugural T100 series last year and, despite not podiuming in any of her races, was set to return to the PTO-organised tour as a fully contracted ‘Hot Shot’ athlete in 2025 courtesy of her performances.

Focused on middle distance, she picked up two wins in IRONMAN 70.3 races at Valencia and Les Sables d’Olonne, adding a bronze medal at Zell am See.

She also finished second at The Championship in Slovakia and secured the win at Challenge Samarkand before ending the season with a 12th-place finish at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in New Zealand.