Are there any current athletes capable of winning both The Olympics and Kona in the same year. A few years back this would have been very unlikely, it probably still is, but we now seem to have some ITU athletes who are very good cyclists too? I’m thinking the Norwegian guys mainly? Maybe also Ali B/ Xavier. Swimming up front has also become more important at Kona, look at how hard it is now for Keinle, Sanders etc to catch up now.
No. Events are too close and preparation is too different
hahaha as if a pro triathlete who’s been racing LC for 3-4 seasons could even qualify for the olympics. There might be one or two who could step back. The skill set of ITU athletes is much, much greater than that of LC pro’s.
From a pure timing standpoint, next year is the year for it with Kona in February and the Olympics in the summer. If they wanted to get crazy then they could try for Kona again in October.
From a pure timing standpoint, next year is the year for it with Kona in February and the Olympics in the summer. If they wanted to get crazy then they could try for Kona again in October.
That would be the way to do it. Go long first.
However, is it possible to get a qualifying spot at the Olympics AND Kona. With a shortened ITU and Kona qualifying period… I’m not sure it’s even possible.
The skill set of ITU athletes is much, much greater than that of LC pro’s.
This. I still recall when a bunch of fans in this forum where predicting how well Wurf was going to perform racing his first ITU race. Got dropped in the water after 100 m, even lost a bit of time on the bike and closed the day with one of the slowest (if not the slowest) running split. And these were not even the top ITU guys.
The only athlete I think can come close is Blummenfelt. But as great as he is on all three sports, the specific training he would need to peak and win in August pretty much writes him off to have enough time to do the specific training required for the Ironman distance.
Desert dude
was actually thinking the opposite way round to you. I agree that a LC athlete would find it virtually impossible to go to the Olympics, one of the reasons being the qualification process. One or two have the ability, Lucy Charles-Barclay maybe, Ali B although you could argue he still hasn’t fully committed to LC.
I was actually thinking more of the ITU athletes (Men in particular) stepping up distance. Some of the biking has improved in the last couple seasons, Blumenfelt, Stornes, Iden all have the potential (and probably the desire) in my opinion.
If ever there was a year, 2021 would be it, given that there are two Konas… A Feb Kona/Aug Olympics combo seems most likely… If anyone is doing it this year, it would be Ali Brownlee… Down the road, I would guess it would be one of the Norwegians (Blu or Iden). Not sure on the ladies side, Flora could probably do it, but I am not sure she would try… Maybe Spirig, but her window’s closing if not closed… 2024, maybe Ash Gentle?
Thats what they said about tour de france and the olympics bring 2 weeks apart
No. Events are too close and preparation is too different
Kona double crown would be bees knees for sure
From a pure timing standpoint, next year is the year for it with Kona in February and the Olympics in the summer. If they wanted to get crazy then they could try for Kona again in October.
was actually thinking the opposite way round to you. I agree that a LC athlete would find it virtually impossible to go to the Olympics…I was actually thinking more of the ITU athletes (Men in particular) stepping up distance.
You’re 100% correct that if it’s going to be done it’s going to be by an ITU athlete.
The reality is winning Olympic gold is 10x bigger than winning Kona.
Trauma
Good call re Ash Gentle. ITU strength swimmer, strong cyclist and one of the best runners.
was actually thinking the opposite way round to you. I agree that a LC athlete would find it virtually impossible to go to the Olympics…I was actually thinking more of the ITU athletes (Men in particular) stepping up distance.
You’re 100% correct that if it’s going to be done it’s going to be by an ITU athlete.
The reality is winning Olympic gold is 10x bigger than winning Kona.
Do you think that’s true world wide? I know in the US winning an Olympic gold would garner a lot more attention than Kona, but how about Germany or some of the other countries that are more in tune with endurance sports?
You guys are all on some long course drugs if you think a double with Kona first is the way to go.
In order to win the Olympics, you need so much speed that you need to have a solid 6month lead in at least. Of pure ITU specification training.
Much much easier to then back it up with an ironman afterwards.
The biggest puzzle for ironman is likely nutrition and pacing for those guys. Fitness is not a question. A month or two of IM specific work would likely see them have a fair chance.
And some cannot translate to long we know this.
Only really 2 or 3 possibles.
Men:
1 - A Brownlee.
Proven double Olympic champ.
Proven sub 7.50 IM.
2 - K Blummenfelt
Podium contender at Olympics
Question mark over IM but proven at 70.3.
3 - J Gomez
Podium contender at Olympics
IM still some work to do but not like he can’t get it right.
Women
1 - F Duffy
Olympic podium contender
IM doubt. Numbers look good but no experience. Heck has she even done a 70.3?
2 - K Zafares
Olympic podium contender
IM doubt. Not sure she even wants it.
To the non triathlon ‘general public’ and media then yes, Olympic gold has far more kudos, and I suspect for the athlete, is much more lucrative. In triathlon circles though I don’t think that is the case. Kona is pretty much the pinnacle in terms of achievement.
If Ali Brownlee can stay fit and regain close to his peak form then yes he could, same with Jonny.
Gomez is probably too old to win the Olympics put it’s not completely out of the question.
Spirig would have been a great bet if she returns full time, but that swim and front pack has gotten faster the last couple of years she might struggle for Oly Gold.
Duffy and Zafares are two other possibles.
You guys are all on some long course drugs if you think a double with Kona first is the way to go.
In order to win the Olympics, you need so much speed that you need to have a solid 6month lead in at least. Of pure ITU specification training.
Much much easier to then back it up with an ironman afterwards.
The biggest puzzle for ironman is likely nutrition and pacing for those guys. Fitness is not a question. A month or two of IM specific work would likely see them have a fair chance.
And some cannot translate to long we know this.
Only really 2 or 3 possibles.
Men:
1 - A Brownlee.
Proven double Olympic champ.
Proven sub 7.50 IM.
2 - K Blummenfelt
Podium contender at Olympics
Question mark over IM but proven at 70.3.
3 - J Gomez
Podium contender at Olympics
IM still some work to do but not like he can’t get it right.
Women
1 - F Duffy
Olympic podium contender
IM doubt. Numbers look good but no experience. Heck has she even done a 70.3?
2 - K Zafares
Olympic podium contender
IM doubt. Not sure she even wants it.
What about the guy who came 4th at the Tokyo Test Event? He also won 70.3 world champs, giving him a spot at Kona.
Gustav and Kristian were the main reasons I posed the question. The latter needs to qualify though?
Gustav and Kristian were the main reasons I posed the question. The latter needs to qualify though?
you do know that was gustav iden you just responded to…right?
You guys are all on some long course drugs if you think a double with Kona first is the way to go.
In order to win the Olympics, you need so much speed that you need to have a solid 6month lead in at least. Of pure ITU specification training.
Much much easier to then back it up with an ironman afterwards.
The biggest puzzle for ironman is likely nutrition and pacing for those guys. Fitness is not a question. A month or two of IM specific work would likely see them have a fair chance.
And some cannot translate to long we know this.
Only really 2 or 3 possibles.
Men:
1 - A Brownlee.
Proven double Olympic champ.
Proven sub 7.50 IM.
2 - K Blummenfelt
Podium contender at Olympics
Question mark over IM but proven at 70.3.
3 - J Gomez
Podium contender at Olympics
IM still some work to do but not like he can’t get it right.
Women
1 - F Duffy
Olympic podium contender
IM doubt. Numbers look good but no experience. Heck has she even done a 70.3?
2 - K Zafares
Olympic podium contender
IM doubt. Not sure she even wants it.
What about the guy who came 4th at the Tokyo Test Event? He also won 70.3 world champs, giving him a spot at Kona.
You’d be next on the list and sorry for not including.
I’d rate your chances as a bit harder than those above given just the 1 ITU podium so far and also unknown IM.
But hey, Frodo pulled his Olympic win from similar records so go for it. Certainly 70.3 champ proves pedigree.
Love the Norwegian attitude so rooting for you guys in each race.
Please keep it up and hammer it. Go for it. Go get it.