Ironman World Championship: Kristian Blummenfelt wins, Anne Haug takes bronze

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The Norwegian Olympic champion Kristian Blummenfelt won at his first participation in the Ironman World Championship

Photo: Tom Pennington / Getty Images for IRONMAN

Kristian Blummenfelt ended the German Ironman era for men with the crowning glory of his winning year, Anne Haug's excellent mileage was no longer enough for another triumph.

Despite a courageous performance, Haug was unable to defend her title at the catch-up World Championships over 3.86 kilometers swimming, 180.2 kilometers cycling and 42.2 kilometers running in St. George.

"It was incredibly hard," said Haug: "It was dying on installments."

The Swiss top triathlete Daniela Ryf finally celebrated a sovereign victory and thus crowned herself for the fifth time.

Second was Kat Matthews from Great Britain, then Haug finished with the fastest marathon time in the women's field.

For Haug it was the third World Cup medal, in addition to winning the last edition 938 days ago, she had already won bronze in 2018.

The second German hopeful Laura Philipp had failed at short notice due to a corona disease.

With a deficit of 15:41 minutes, Haug started her favorite discipline, running, in fifth place - and at over 30 degrees she went all out from the first meter.

After 15 kilometers Haug overtook the Swede Lisa Norden, but after that she had to pay tribute to the high speed at the start.

The step became heavier, and she was no longer able to close the three-minute gap to second-placed Matthews.

"You don't have a subscription to victory," emphasized Haug, who had been completely exhausted in the finish area.

Blummenfelt crowns a terrific year

Blummenfelt had written the next chapter of his grandiose success story there a few minutes earlier.

The 28-year-old Norwegian became an Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo last year, won the short-distance world title and set a world record in his Ironman debut.

In St. George, in the US state of Utah, Blummenfelt confirmed his top class.

With the triumph of Blummenfelt, who took the lead for the first time in the final marathon and stayed under 2:40 hours, the era of German title successes ended, which had begun in 2014 with Sebastian Kienle, who this time finished 14th, his worst place in the World Championships.

However, at the first World Championships outside of Hawaii, Jan Frodeno, the champion of 2015, 2016 and 2019, and Patrick Lange, the world champion of 2017 and 2018, were missing Suffered a shoulder injury during winter training camp.

St. George's world title is officially held for the year 2021.

In 2020 and last year, the World Cup could not take place in Hawaii due to the corona pandemic.

In October of this year, however, the Mecca of triathletes will again be about the World Championship medals.

see/dpa/sid