But you suspect the Norwegian won\u2019t be satisfied until he\u2019s obliterated the common consensus of what a triathlete can achieve.<\/p>\n
Who is Kristian Blummenfelt?<\/strong><\/h2>\nKnown and highly respected as one of the hardest-training triathletes in the world (he freely admits to putting his body through its paces for more than eight hours a day), Kristian Blummenfelt is testament to the dictum that the rewards go to those who put the effort in.<\/p>\n
He is \u2013 pretty much indisputably \u2013 the best triathlete in the world right now, a man who continues to prove himself over a range of distances.<\/p>\n
Born in the Norwegian city of Bergen, Blummenfelt was a swimmer and footballer in his youth, before diverting his attentions towards triathlon. Although he became national champion before his 20th birthday, it took a while to make an impression on the World Triathlon Series.<\/p>\n
\n- Could Norway\u2019s top triathletes medal in Tokyo?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Always a fierce \u2013 and fiercely combative \u2013 competitor in the series, as someone often in and around the top 10 it was perhaps surprising that he only scored his first WTS race success as recently as 2019, with victory at the Lausanne Grand Final<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\nBy then, though, he\u2019d made a seismic impression in Ironman circles when he recorded the fastest-ever Ironman 70.3 in Bahrain in 2018. That was only the half of it; the following year, he took a further chunk out of the half-distance record.<\/p>\n
But it was when the sport returned to full speed after a break in competition because of Covid that Blummenfelt really bloomed. A vice-tightening run in the Olympic triathlon in Tokyo saw him deliver Norway\u2019s first-ever triathlon medal at the Games<\/strong><\/a>. It was gold in colour.<\/p>\nA month later, he added the World Triathlon Championship Series crown<\/strong><\/a> to his impressive haul. But that still wasn\u2019t enough for the ultra-competitive Blummenfelt.<\/p>\nIn his first-ever full-distance Ironman, he chopped a huge amount off the existing world-best time<\/strong><\/a>, much to many people\u2019s amazement.<\/p>\nIn May 2022, he then became the first triathlete in history to win the Ironman world title<\/strong><\/a> while also holding the Olympic title.<\/p>\nHe lost it to his compatriot Gustav Iden in October at the 2022 Ironman Worlds, but then went on to win the 70.3 title just three weeks later.<\/p>\n
In short, Blummenfelt won\u2019t rest on his laurels. There are more titles to win, more records to break. And he won\u2019t miss a beat of that punishing training schedule.<\/p>\n
\n- Frodeno: \u2018Blummenfelt makes me lose sleep\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
How old is Kristian Blummenfelt?<\/strong><\/h2>\nKristian Blummenfelt was born on 14 February 1994, making him 29 years old.<\/p>\n
Kristian Blummenfelt\u2019s career highlights<\/strong><\/h2>\n ![\"Norwegian]( "\\"TRIATHLON")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div> L-R: Sam Laidlow (2nd), Gustav Iden (1st) and Kristian Blummenfelt (3rd) celebrate on the podium at the 2022 Ironman World Championship. (Credit: David Pintens\/Belga Mag\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nAugust 2013: The national title while still a teen<\/strong><\/h3>\nAs a hint that he will be a dominant force within Norwegian triathlon for many years, 19-year-old Blummenfelt wins the national championships for the first time. More national titles \u2013 and international ones too\u00a0\u2013 are heading his way.<\/p>\n
May 2016: A first appearance on a WTS podium<\/strong><\/h3>\n ![\"del_9615\"]( "\\"del_9615\\"\/")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div> Kristian Blummenfelt runs through for his first World Triathlon podium in Yokohama, 2016. Credit: Delly Carr\/ITU<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nAfter a spirited run in which he goes toe-to-toe with Mario Mola for a significant period of the leg, a tiring Blummenfelt holds on to take bronze in Yokohama<\/strong><\/a>. Not only is it his first WTS podium finish, it\u2019s his first top- 10 placing, too. Three months later, he finishes 13th at the Rio Olympics.<\/p>\n\n- Alistair Brownlee wins Olympic gold in Rio<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
September 2017: The Norwegian scoops an overall WTS bronze<\/strong><\/h3>\nAt the Grand Final in Rotterdam, Blummenfelt takes his third second-place of the season, earning him overall bronze and a place on the podium alongside the mighty Spaniards, Mario Mola and Javier G\u00f3mez<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n- Luis wins Rotterdam, but Mola takes 2nd world title<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
November 2017: A successful half-Ironman debut in Bahrain<\/strong><\/h3>\n ![\"BAHRAIN,]( "\\"IRONMAN")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div> Kristian Blummenfelt on the run leg of the Ironman 70.3 Middle East Championship, Bahrain, on 25 November, 2017. Credit: Alex Caparros\/Getty Images for Ironman<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nStill only 23, Blummenfelt decides to go long and wins the Ironman 70.3 Middle East championships at the first time of asking, confirming his all-round ability and prowess.<\/p>\n
December 2018: Blummenfelt becomes the fastest Ironman 70.3 triathlete in history<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe story of the day wasn\u2019t that Blummenfelt successfully defended his title in Bahrain. It was that \u2013 with 3:29:04 \u2013 he posted the fastest-ever 70.3 time. Small wonder that he exuberantly punched the air as he crossed the line. It\u2019s a 1-2-3 for Norway, with compatriots Gustav Iden<\/strong><\/a> and Casper Stornes taking the other medals. All three were inside the previous world-best time.<\/p>\nAugust 2019: That long-awaited WTS race win finally arrives<\/strong><\/h3>\n ![\"LAUSANNE,]( "\\"ITU")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div> Kristian Blummenfelt celebrates victory at the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final on 31 August, 2019, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Credit: J\u00f6rg Sch\u00fcler\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nAfter numerous top-five finishes, Blummenfelt breaks his WTS duck when he wins the Grand Final in Lausanne. However, with it being his only podium finish \u2013 in a season where he registered three DNFs \u2013 he only finishes 10th overall.<\/p>\n
December 2019: A Middle East hat-trick in double-quick time<\/strong><\/h3>\nBlummenfelt eclipses the previous year\u2019s record-breaking performance in Bahrain by knocking nearly four minutes of his 70.3 world-best time. The record now stands at 3:25:21.<\/p>\n
July 2021: Gold is the colour in Tokyo<\/strong><\/h3>\nAfter a pandemic-enforced delay, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics take place a year later than scheduled, but it makes for great timing for Blummenfelt who powers away from Alex Yee<\/strong><\/a> and Hayden Wilde in the closing stages of the run to take gold and gain Olympic immortality.<\/p>\n\n- All the action from the men\u2019s 2020 Tokyo Olympic triathlon in pictures<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- Tokyo 2020: all the reaction on social media from the dramatic men\u2019s race<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
August 2021: Victory in Edmonton delivers an unprecedented double<\/strong><\/h3>\nAfter only finishing 13th in the Covid-affected, single-race WTS championship the previous year<\/strong><\/a>, a win on the streets of Edmonton gives Blummenfelt the world title. He becomes the first man to win both the Olympics and the worlds in the same season.<\/p>\nNovember 2021: The most amazing Ironman debut ever<\/strong><\/h3>\n ![\"IMG_5201\"]( "\\"IMG_5201\\"\/")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div> Kristian Blummenfelt crosses the line at Ironman Cozumel, 2021, having clocked the fastest-recorded Ironman time of 7:21:10.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nA phenomenal season gets even more astonishing when Blummenfelt approaches the start line at Ironman Cozumel. Precisely four hours, two minutes and 40 seconds later, he becomes the fastest Ironman ever \u2013 and on his debut too.<\/p>\n
His time is more than six minutes inside the previous world\u2019s best, set earlier in the year by Germany\u2019s Jan Frodeno<\/strong><\/a>, although a current-assisted swim does muddy the waters a little.<\/p>\nMay 2022: Introducing the new Ironman world champion\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\nBecomes the first triathlete ever to hold both the Olympic and Ironman world titles at the same time, by winning the postponed 2021 Ironman World Championship in Utah. Despite a depleted field<\/strong><\/a>, Blummenfelt puts in a blistering run to take the tape in his Ironman Worlds debut.<\/p>\nJune 2022: Introducing the world\u2019s first Sub7 triathlete<\/strong><\/h3>\nThose records just keep on tumbling as Blummenfelt becomes the first male triathlete in history to go sub-7hrs with a 6:44:25 in\u00a0the Sub7\u00a0challenge<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\nJuly 2022: A Norweigan show down<\/strong><\/h3>\n ![\"who]( "\\"who")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div> The two exhausted Norweigans put on a show for the ages (Credit: PTO \/ Eurosport)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nBlummenfelt takes part in the inaugural PTO Canadian Open in Edmonton<\/a><\/strong> after a season of successful racing.<\/p>\nJust as it looks like he\u2019s set to power through the final 18km run to take the victory, Blummenfelt sufferes from quad cramp and loses precious seconds, eventually coming in second to compatriot Gustav Iden.<\/p>\n
To lessen the sting, he still pockets the $70k runners-up bonus.<\/p>\n
August 2022: King of Europe<\/strong><\/h3>\nAt the second Collins Cup in Slovakia, he\u2019s matched with Ben Kanute and Hayden Wilde, but makes relatively light work of the race as he breaks away in the second-half of the bike to take a maximum bonus points win<\/strong><\/a>. Team Europe go on to claim victory overall<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\nOctober 2022: Kona<\/strong>\u00a0third place on debut<\/strong><\/h3>\nDoesn\u2019t quite live up to all the pre-race \u2018favourite to win\u2019 hype, but still helps chart a new tri era by finishing third behind compatriot Iden<\/strong><\/a> in first and Sam Laidlow<\/strong><\/a> in second \u2013 also both first-timers to the course. The top four men all break the existing course record.<\/p>\nOctober 2022: Wins the 70.3 Worlds<\/strong><\/h3>\nThree weeks later he proves he\u2019s master of all distances by winning the 70.3 world title<\/strong><\/a> and completing the full set of triathlon\u2019s major honours.<\/p>\nNovember 2022: Two top 10s in the WTCS<\/strong><\/h3>\nReturns to the short course just one week after winning the 70.3 Worlds and finishes a credible sixth in Bermuda. Three weeks later he\u2019s in Abu Dhabi at the Grand Final and he\u2019s placing eighth.<\/p>\n
August 2023: Wins PTO Asian Open<\/strong><\/h3>\nStrikes gold in Singapore<\/strong><\/a> less than 48 hrs after finishing ninth at the Paris Olympics Test Event<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\nIt\u2019s the missing medal, as he won silver at the PTO European Open<\/strong><\/a> and bronze at the PTO US Open<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\nHis results on the WTCS circuit read 8th in Yokohama; 15th Cagliari; 5th Montreal; 4th Hamburg.<\/p>\n
Always a fierce \u2013 and fiercely combative \u2013 competitor in the series, as someone often in and around the top 10 it was perhaps surprising that he only scored his first WTS race success as recently as 2019, with victory at the Lausanne Grand Final<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n By then, though, he\u2019d made a seismic impression in Ironman circles when he recorded the fastest-ever Ironman 70.3 in Bahrain in 2018. That was only the half of it; the following year, he took a further chunk out of the half-distance record.<\/p>\n But it was when the sport returned to full speed after a break in competition because of Covid that Blummenfelt really bloomed. A vice-tightening run in the Olympic triathlon in Tokyo saw him deliver Norway\u2019s first-ever triathlon medal at the Games<\/strong><\/a>. It was gold in colour.<\/p>\n A month later, he added the World Triathlon Championship Series crown<\/strong><\/a> to his impressive haul. But that still wasn\u2019t enough for the ultra-competitive Blummenfelt.<\/p>\n In his first-ever full-distance Ironman, he chopped a huge amount off the existing world-best time<\/strong><\/a>, much to many people\u2019s amazement.<\/p>\n In May 2022, he then became the first triathlete in history to win the Ironman world title<\/strong><\/a> while also holding the Olympic title.<\/p>\n He lost it to his compatriot Gustav Iden in October at the 2022 Ironman Worlds, but then went on to win the 70.3 title just three weeks later.<\/p>\n In short, Blummenfelt won\u2019t rest on his laurels. There are more titles to win, more records to break. And he won\u2019t miss a beat of that punishing training schedule.<\/p>\n Kristian Blummenfelt was born on 14 February 1994, making him 29 years old.<\/p>\n As a hint that he will be a dominant force within Norwegian triathlon for many years, 19-year-old Blummenfelt wins the national championships for the first time. More national titles \u2013 and international ones too\u00a0\u2013 are heading his way.<\/p>\n After a spirited run in which he goes toe-to-toe with Mario Mola for a significant period of the leg, a tiring Blummenfelt holds on to take bronze in Yokohama<\/strong><\/a>. Not only is it his first WTS podium finish, it\u2019s his first top- 10 placing, too. Three months later, he finishes 13th at the Rio Olympics.<\/p>\n At the Grand Final in Rotterdam, Blummenfelt takes his third second-place of the season, earning him overall bronze and a place on the podium alongside the mighty Spaniards, Mario Mola and Javier G\u00f3mez<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Still only 23, Blummenfelt decides to go long and wins the Ironman 70.3 Middle East championships at the first time of asking, confirming his all-round ability and prowess.<\/p>\n The story of the day wasn\u2019t that Blummenfelt successfully defended his title in Bahrain. It was that \u2013 with 3:29:04 \u2013 he posted the fastest-ever 70.3 time. Small wonder that he exuberantly punched the air as he crossed the line. It\u2019s a 1-2-3 for Norway, with compatriots Gustav Iden<\/strong><\/a> and Casper Stornes taking the other medals. All three were inside the previous world-best time.<\/p>\n After numerous top-five finishes, Blummenfelt breaks his WTS duck when he wins the Grand Final in Lausanne. However, with it being his only podium finish \u2013 in a season where he registered three DNFs \u2013 he only finishes 10th overall.<\/p>\n Blummenfelt eclipses the previous year\u2019s record-breaking performance in Bahrain by knocking nearly four minutes of his 70.3 world-best time. The record now stands at 3:25:21.<\/p>\n After a pandemic-enforced delay, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics take place a year later than scheduled, but it makes for great timing for Blummenfelt who powers away from Alex Yee<\/strong><\/a> and Hayden Wilde in the closing stages of the run to take gold and gain Olympic immortality.<\/p>\n After only finishing 13th in the Covid-affected, single-race WTS championship the previous year<\/strong><\/a>, a win on the streets of Edmonton gives Blummenfelt the world title. He becomes the first man to win both the Olympics and the worlds in the same season.<\/p>\n A phenomenal season gets even more astonishing when Blummenfelt approaches the start line at Ironman Cozumel. Precisely four hours, two minutes and 40 seconds later, he becomes the fastest Ironman ever \u2013 and on his debut too.<\/p>\n His time is more than six minutes inside the previous world\u2019s best, set earlier in the year by Germany\u2019s Jan Frodeno<\/strong><\/a>, although a current-assisted swim does muddy the waters a little.<\/p>\n Becomes the first triathlete ever to hold both the Olympic and Ironman world titles at the same time, by winning the postponed 2021 Ironman World Championship in Utah. Despite a depleted field<\/strong><\/a>, Blummenfelt puts in a blistering run to take the tape in his Ironman Worlds debut.<\/p>\n Those records just keep on tumbling as Blummenfelt becomes the first male triathlete in history to go sub-7hrs with a 6:44:25 in\u00a0the Sub7\u00a0challenge<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Blummenfelt takes part in the inaugural PTO Canadian Open in Edmonton<\/a><\/strong> after a season of successful racing.<\/p>\n Just as it looks like he\u2019s set to power through the final 18km run to take the victory, Blummenfelt sufferes from quad cramp and loses precious seconds, eventually coming in second to compatriot Gustav Iden.<\/p>\n To lessen the sting, he still pockets the $70k runners-up bonus.<\/p>\n At the second Collins Cup in Slovakia, he\u2019s matched with Ben Kanute and Hayden Wilde, but makes relatively light work of the race as he breaks away in the second-half of the bike to take a maximum bonus points win<\/strong><\/a>. Team Europe go on to claim victory overall<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Doesn\u2019t quite live up to all the pre-race \u2018favourite to win\u2019 hype, but still helps chart a new tri era by finishing third behind compatriot Iden<\/strong><\/a> in first and Sam Laidlow<\/strong><\/a> in second \u2013 also both first-timers to the course. The top four men all break the existing course record.<\/p>\n Three weeks later he proves he\u2019s master of all distances by winning the 70.3 world title<\/strong><\/a> and completing the full set of triathlon\u2019s major honours.<\/p>\n Returns to the short course just one week after winning the 70.3 Worlds and finishes a credible sixth in Bermuda. Three weeks later he\u2019s in Abu Dhabi at the Grand Final and he\u2019s placing eighth.<\/p>\n Strikes gold in Singapore<\/strong><\/a> less than 48 hrs after finishing ninth at the Paris Olympics Test Event<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the missing medal, as he won silver at the PTO European Open<\/strong><\/a> and bronze at the PTO US Open<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n His results on the WTCS circuit read 8th in Yokohama; 15th Cagliari; 5th Montreal; 4th Hamburg.<\/p>\n\n
How old is Kristian Blummenfelt?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Kristian Blummenfelt\u2019s career highlights<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Norwegian](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/10\/mens-podium-ironman-world-championship-01c33fd.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"TRIATHLON")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>August 2013: The national title while still a teen<\/strong><\/h3>\n
May 2016: A first appearance on a WTS podium<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"del_9615\"](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/03\/del_9615-6e13768.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"del_9615\\"\/")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n
September 2017: The Norwegian scoops an overall WTS bronze<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
November 2017: A successful half-Ironman debut in Bahrain<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"BAHRAIN,](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/03\/GettyImages-878946508-f0bde12.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"IRONMAN")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>December 2018: Blummenfelt becomes the fastest Ironman 70.3 triathlete in history<\/strong><\/h3>\n
August 2019: That long-awaited WTS race win finally arrives<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"LAUSANNE,](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/03\/GettyImages-1165207278-38e138d.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"ITU")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>December 2019: A Middle East hat-trick in double-quick time<\/strong><\/h3>\n
July 2021: Gold is the colour in Tokyo<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
August 2021: Victory in Edmonton delivers an unprecedented double<\/strong><\/h3>\n
November 2021: The most amazing Ironman debut ever<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"IMG_5201\"](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/03\/IMG_5201-46ae041.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"IMG_5201\\"\/")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>May 2022: Introducing the new Ironman world champion\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
June 2022: Introducing the world\u2019s first Sub7 triathlete<\/strong><\/h3>\n
July 2022: A Norweigan show down<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"who](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/07\/who-won-mens-pto-canadian-open-538592f.png?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"who")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>August 2022: King of Europe<\/strong><\/h3>\n
October 2022: Kona<\/strong>\u00a0third place on debut<\/strong><\/h3>\n
October 2022: Wins the 70.3 Worlds<\/strong><\/h3>\n
November 2022: Two top 10s in the WTCS<\/strong><\/h3>\n
August 2023: Wins PTO Asian Open<\/strong><\/h3>\n