Was it reported that Knibb had to give back ~$15k for skipping the 1st race. If you just do basic math, that would be over 5 races a salary of $75k ($15k per race) and if you only paid them $5k per race ($25k salary). Obviously someone like SL who finished 5th + social media presence has likely a good chance of being among the most paid salaried athletes. Obviously T100 is going to be budgetary limited, I cant remember the total number of contracted athletes.
If it’s 12/gender, so 24 total getting paid $50k salary that would be $1.2mi on salaries. Was it also reported that potentially your actual travel to the race wasn’t covered, just the host hotel stays. That’s sorta the frustrating part of all of this. All this secrecy and behind the scenes does nothing really to help the cause. But I get it, they are probaly having to do things to just get by, as best they can.
PTN reported this I guess, I didn’t listen to it. The contracts for T100 are opaque as there appear to be three different kinds. Gold for top, something middle, and then Hot Shots. What the triggers are no one knows. People skipped races last year, did they have to forfeit money? My guess with anything these contracts are either paid out bi-weekly or based on triggers. So my assumption is that she forfeited the money, not that she had to pay it back because I doubt it had been paid to her. Clawing back wages is an insane practice to go through.
Not that I see her racing an extra race, but do they give it back if she hits the race minimum?
I think it was more that 1st race was “mandatory” regardless of how many total events an athlete would race. (unless you had a valid reason to miss…skipping it cus you don’t want to race I don’t think they accepted as “valid”)
So how did you go today? I think we can put a big + in Sam’s swim progress today, at least in the wetsuit category. Same for Lionel, so that Tuscon swimming has done them both some good. Lionel only about 1;20 back/Sam 2;20 back from lead group of contenders and Magnus. A huge improvement from the 6 back at the ITU race, which of course was non wetsuit and less swim depth…
I, uh, made a wrong turn. And yes Sam wax’s great and he should be doing these races and not T100. He’s getting g way more exposure, sponsor $, doing this.
I think he did this race, no? (-; And no doubt he will do a few more, but I do think like Lionel, 70.3 is more suited to his talents. Perhaps they can both unleash a big one in the 70.3 WC this year…
At this point he is truly getting his cake and eating it too. I dont see any path just doing Ironmans where he makes anywhere near what he makes doing both…And that is a weird turn you made there, was that the sun or some bad feet? How did the rest of the race go for you?
I inadvertently started sighting off of buoys on the outbound leg! A jet ski came over to yell at me! Bike was good, 2:38, and I ran a decent 1:45 on that course for 5:04, 9th in 55-59.
On The Triathlon Hour podcast this morning, Jack, Ari Klau, Greg Harper, and Justin Riele discuss Sam’s swim starting at the 6:40 mark. They all make the case his swim relative to his previous performance both at St. George and Singapore are slightly worse this year than previously. He used to swim with Lionel and on Saturday was a minute down. His last 2 St. George race swims have been a minute slower than previous years. So objectively as of May 2025, his T100 money hasn’t shown up in his swim performance and now that we are solidly in race season, I’m wondering where the opportunity is for it to improve. Lionel Sanders DOMINATES, Paula Findlay Says It How It Is & All Things St George - The Triathlon Hour | Podcast on Spotify
Haven’t listened to that pod, but are they comparing “actual time” or time back? I get the time back from Lionel, but did they consider Lionel has made a big improvement and he went forward and not Sam backwards?
For me I look at the entire situation on the day, and Lionel was 1;20 back of lead group, Sam 2;20 back. As I recall that is about as close as Lionel has ever come(excluding solo off the front swimmer of course), and for Sam too. I mean Sam was 6 minutes back just weeks ago from the lead pack(albeit a faster pack for sure), and in a similar distance swim just 2;20.
I would not close the book just yet as to improvements on both those guys, in fact looks like they are in a great spot to erase those much smaller deficits early on the bike legs(which we saw in this race)…
Think I also heard Lionel comment that he was quite surprised at his swim, looking around and seeing swimmers he usually doesnt.
Both, and also pointed out Sam was swimming in the 25’s for 3 previous St. George races but in 2024, and now 2025 he’s 26. So, comparing him to himself, it’s a slight step back. And he was a min further back in Singapore 2025 vs. 2024.
Ok so you made me look and he swam 26;03 last year, so was slightly faster on time this year. Also looks like the lead group was around 23;mid, so was 2;30+ down last year, so another slight improvement from last year. Makes me wonder what they are looking at and if they have an agenda for it to fit??
An agenda? That’s…something to suggest. Greg Harper is a world class swimmer, Ari is a middle to back of pack pro, Justin swam 23 so he’s no slouch. So, they seem uniquely qualified to opine about swimming and maybe their “agenda” is to get Sam to use them for swim coaches?
I was surprised how much time Sam spent chatting with random AGers at the ironman village on Thursday. He was there on his way to the Zoot stall, and spent probably 30min chatting and taking photos with everyone. And then again continued as he got to the Zoot tent. Really nice guy.
St. George swim splits
2021- 25:24
2021 Worlds- 25:54
2023- 25:27
2024- 26:03
2025- 26:00
They simply said he hasn’t shown an improvement and objectively it’s a smidge slower. You could just spend 5min and listen to what they say.
swimmers are overly-little sensitive about this(!) but for what its worth, I have never been able to verify that Greg qualified for 2012 Olympic Trials. And look, he is a great swimmer, and a teenager going sub 4 in the 400, is going to end up being a trials qualifier 9/10 times. But did he actually qualify for the trials? Either way, he probably is the best swimmer in triathlon right now (though I’d not title him as a world class swimmer(!) but that’s my problem not yours!)
Back to topic: unfortunately I wonder if Sam has an unfixable problem. His plantar flexion is the worst I’ve ever seen. When he pushes off the wall, it looks like he pulls a parachute. He is obviously very fit and relatively comfortable in the water yet he’s still taking 20ish strokes per lap (in scy ) ; that really is an issue without an obvious fix.
And yes Sam wax’s great and he should be doing these races and not T100. He’s getting g way more exposure, sponsor $, doing this.