Blummenfelt with Ironman record in Bahrain

Iron man is a grueling event consisting of swimming, bicycling & running. the 70.3 format is half the distance of a regular Ironman. Photo: eu.ironman.com

Blummenfelt with Ironman record in Bahrain

Norwegian Triathlete Kristian Blummenfelt stormed into world record under Ironman 70.3 in Bahrain on Saturday. He was flanked by two countrymen on the podium.

 

The Ironman record in the 70.3 format is now at 3 hours, 29 minutes and 4 seconds.

Gustav Iden and Casper Stornes took the other podium places. The Norwegian trio thus showed their backs to the world elite under the Ironman 70.3 in Bahrain.

Iden ran into second place and completed 1.9 kilometres of swimming, 90 kilometres of cycling and a half marathon at 3.29.25. Stornes followed up with a third-place finish, some 4 minutes later, in 3.33.31.

The Norwegians bunched up during the cycling one hour into the race. In the end, it was decided after a runners duel. Blummenfelt delivered a coup de grace and left Iden, who ended 21 seconds behind.

The 24-years-old tells NRK that he got a little shocked when he saw the total time, which is five minutes below the old record. All three Norwegians ended ahead of that time.

– Of course, it is incredibly good to beat the previous world record! I have shown myself during some of the World Cup competitions earlier this year but do not think there are many who thought we could achieve such good times. Besides us, that is. We have thought that this is possible for several weeks now, Iden tells NRK.

Blummenfelt defended last year’s victory in Bahrain and secured this year’s first top spot finish. British Holly Lawrence likewise defended last year’s victory in the women’s class.

 

© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today