It was supposed to be the last triumph, but in the end there wasn’t enough strength: Jan Frodeno was no longer able to fight for the title at the Ironman World Championships in Nice on Sunday – but he provided the emotional climax of the race.
It was sometime shortly before the end of the bike course when Jan Frodeno himself heralded the end of his great career. “The gladiator dies in his arena,” said the 42-year-old triathlon superstar into the ARD microphone on one of the descents of the Ironman World Championships in Nice.
In doing so, he made it clear what had become apparent over the hilly kilometers beforehand: the Cologne native can no longer fight for the title in his last race. After three world and three European championship titles and countless other victories, but also serious injuries and setbacks, a great career has come to an end.
Marathon becomes a lap of honor
And so the last marathon in the professional career of the native of Cologne turned into an emotional farewell round. While the new world champion Sam Laidlow and Patrick Lange were fighting for the title, Frodeno was allowed to take his time. He walked out of the transition tent smiling, hugged his family waiting there and only after this touching moment set off on the marathon.
Frodeno also stopped during the race and spoke to coach Dan Lorang, for example. At the end of the race, the superstar insisted on high fives with the new champion. Just under a kilometer from the finish, Frodeno was waiting for Laidlow on the running track and cheered the young world champion. “At some point it became clear that today would be a day to arrive. Today it was a matter of honoring the race and getting to the finish line,” he said later at the finish line.
“It was a long and very beautiful journey”
“This trip meant everything to me,” Frodeno summed up after the race. “It was a long and very beautiful journey. There were all ups and downs. But I’m very happy. Saying goodbye doesn’t hurt as much anymore, so I know it’s time to go.”