Jan Frodeno is already looking forward to the duel with the new Ironman world champion. “It’s going to be a love-hate relationship between us,” said the three-time champion, laughing slightly.
“He lives and loves this sport completely. He definitely has this switch in his head.” Dominant, strong-willed, more mature than he was at that age, this is how the title holder of 2015, 2016 and 2019 describes the champion of the year 2021 after his triumph at the catch-up World Championships on Saturday in St. George. “I’m very excited to see how it will end one day, when we hopefully manage to meet each other,” said Frodeno, who switched to the broadcast at sportschau.de.
Blummenfelt’s motto is as simple as it is accurate: “Losing hurts more.” So the Norwegian simply wins. Just like last year’s Olympic Games. Like the short-distance world championship. Just like in his Ironman debut – in a world best time, by the way. Just like at his first Ironman World Championship, when he duped the competition with a marathon time of 2:38:01 hours and a total of 7:49:16 hours for the 3.86 kilometers of swimming, 180.2 kilometers of cycling and 42.2 kilometers running needed.
Blummenfelt doesn’t necessarily look like a Frodeno or a Lange. At 1.77 meters tall, he is said to weigh 74 kilograms. The triathlete from Bergen looks compact. Unlike a Frodeno with its 1.94 meters and 76 kilograms.
“Hats off, definitely,” said Lange and verbally bowed to Blummenfelt, who ended the German era with his victory. In 2014 Sebastian Kienle won the title in Hawaii, followed by Frodeno’s two successes before Lange won twice. In 2019 it was Frodeno again. There was no World Cup in 2020 – the corona pandemic was to blame. In October 2021, the World Cup in Hawaii was ultimately postponed to May 7, 2022 in St. George. And it came, as many had expected, a fortiori due to the absence of the injured German title holders Frodeno and Lange.
Not to forget that Blummenfelt was not even completely fit. He had caught a cold before the race. Just like compatriot Gustav Iden, two years younger, also from Bergen. Two athletes of the new generation, which also includes fifth-placed Florian Angert. The 30-year-old from Weinheim was the best German starter. Kienle, who will be 38 in July, dragged himself across the finish line in 14th place.
After all, the Norwegian triumphant also had to admit that it was a “hard day”. His trainer explained: Blummenfelt was only 90 percent due to the cold. What that means for the World Cup in October in the triathlon Mecca on Hawaii, Frodeno should also ask himself.