{"id":25967,"date":"2023-09-28T15:26:10","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T13:26:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.220triathlon.com\/?p=148907"},"modified":"2023-09-28T15:46:08","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T13:46:08","slug":"leon-chevalier-background-career-highlights-quotes","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/rss_feed\/leon-chevalier-background-career-highlights-quotes\/","title":{"rendered":"L\u00e9on Chevalier: Background, career highlights, quotes"},"content":{"rendered":"

L\u00e9on Chevalier has seen some extraordinary success on the long-distance triathlon circuit in a very short amount of time. Let’s meet the recently graduated chemical engineer\u2026 <\/p>

By Nige Tassell\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 28 September 2023 at 13:26 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Now that his studies are over, France\u2019s L\u00e9on Chevalier has the time \u2013 and possibly the talent \u2013 to become his country\u2019s next long-distance world champion.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Who is L\u00e9on Chevalier?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

L\u00e9on Chevalier has, over the past couple of years, not only made a real initial impact on long-distance racing, but he\u2019s followed that up by establishing himself as one of the most consistent performers on the scene.<\/p>\n

His rise is all the more astonishing, bearing in mind he started out competing in sprint triathlons before electing to ignore the crowded field of Olympic-distance racing and head straight to the long stuff.<\/p>\n

Born in Paris, L\u00e9on spent his early years in New York City before his parents moved the family back to France. For the last five years, he\u2019s called Bath home, from where he\u2019s spent much of the time earning a Masters in chemical engineering.<\/p>\n

That he was balancing high-level studies with his burgeoning elite triathlon career makes his story all the more irresistible.<\/p>\n

As an age-group European duathlon champion in 2017, L\u00e9on had showed he was in possession of a winning mentality before he moved through triathlon\u2019s long-distance ranks. His first Ironman podium came at Ironman UK in July 2021, since when he\u2019s been no stranger to medal ceremonies.<\/p>\n

L\u00e9on\u2019s first Ironman victory came in Mallorca that same year, a triumph marked by his breaking of the course record. A three-time top-10 finisher at the Ironman worlds, he\u2019s also posted wins at Ironman South Africa and Ironman 70.3 Les Sables D\u2019Olonne.<\/p>\n

While many of his compatriots will have their eye on next year\u2019s Olympics in Paris, L\u00e9on appears to have no qualms about taking an unorthodox route into long-distance racing, one that eschewed a tilt at Olympic competition, let alone glory.<\/p>\n

And now that his studies are over, what price this modest Frenchman tasting Ironman world glory in the next few years?<\/p>\n

How old is L\u00e9on Chevalier?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

L\u00e9on Chevalier was born on 6 October 1996, making him 26 years of age.<\/p>\n

L\u00e9on Chevalier\u2019s career highlights<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"French\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Leon Chevalier competes on the bike during the 2021 Ironman World Championships, on 7 May, 2022, in St George, Utah. (Credit: Tom Pennington\/Getty Images for Ironman)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

June 2018: Top five in north Africa<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Coming fourth at the ATU African Cup sprint triathlon in the Moroccan coastal city of Larache marks L\u00e9on\u2019s best-placed finish over the short distance before he leapfrogs Olympic-distance racing to go long.<\/p>\n

October 2019: Top 10 in maiden long-distance event<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In his first appearance in long-distance racing, L\u00e9on finishes seventh at Challenge Pequera Mallorca, suggesting his giant leap from sprint events could bear rich fruit. The Balearic island will be a happy hunting-ground for the Frenchman over the next few seasons.<\/p>\n

June 2021: Silver in Berkshire<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After his studies and the pandemic have restricted L\u00e9on\u2019s progress, a rare foray into Olympic-distance racing seems him climb the podium at Eton Dorney in an otherwise exclusively British field.<\/p>\n

July 2021: Bronze on Ironman debut<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"L-R:\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
L-R: Sam Laidlow (silver), Joe Skipper (gold) and L\u00e9on Chevalier (bronze) on the podium at Ironman UK, 2021. (Credit: Nigel Roddis\/Getty Images for Ironman)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

In his first full Ironman (having ignored the traditional stepping-stone of Ironman 70.3 racing), L\u00e9on comes home third at Ironman UK in Bolton, narrowly missing out on silver to compatriot Sam Laidlow<\/strong><\/a>, just seven seconds away.<\/p>\n

July 2021: Silver lining in the Alps<\/strong><\/h3>\n

L\u00e9on takes his fine form back to France where he posts the fastest run of the day at the Alpe D\u2019Huez L triathlon to take silver behind fellow countryman Clement Mignon.<\/p>\n

August 2021: Peak performance<\/strong><\/h3>\n

By now no stranger to race podiums, L\u00e9on returns to the Alps to secure top spot for the first time in his career in Embrun. His victory is a commanding one, breaking the tape nearly 1o minutes ahead of the nearest competitor.<\/p>\n

September 2021: The medal haul continues<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Spending the summer back in France away from his studies in the UK continues to be a productive period in L\u00e9on\u2019s triathlon career, as he takes silver at Triathlon Royan on the Atlantic coast.<\/p>\n

October 2021: Grabbing some Spanish gold<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"French\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
L\u00e9on Chevalier wins Ironman Mallorca 2021. (Credit: Pablo Blazquez Dominguez\/Getty Images for Ironman)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

L\u00e9on\u2019s tremendous summer signs off in magnificent fashion in Mallorca with his first Ironman win, a record-time victory set up by the speediest of bike legs. If they weren\u2019t already paying attention, the rest of the Ironman community now has the dangerous Frenchman on their radar.<\/p>\n

March 2022: Top-five finish on Ironman 70.3 debut<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As a warm-up to the rescheduled Ironman world champs in two months\u2019 time, L\u00e9on makes his maiden appearance in an Ironman 70.3 race, dipping under the four-hour mark in Lanzarote to finish fifth.<\/p>\n

May 2022: Mixing it with the legends<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"L\u00e9on\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
L\u00e9on Chevalier celebrates as he finishes sixth at the 2021 Ironman World Championships (held in May 2022) in St George, Utah. (Credit: Tom Pennington\/Getty Images for Ironman)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

In St George in Utah, at the Ironman World Champs rescheduled from the previous year because of the pandemic, L\u00e9on scores a highly impressive sixth place, a result made all the more notable by the fact that he\u2019s still a full-time student at this time and thus unable to be a full-time pro triathlete. With this performance, he has reserved himself a place at the top table of triathlon.<\/p>\n

July 2022: Victory in the Alps<\/strong><\/h3>\n

On his return to Alpe D\u2019Huez, L\u00e9on goes one better than the previous year, taking gold by 18 minutes, a measure of his utter dominance of the race.<\/p>\n

August 2022: L\u00e9on makes his Hawaii bow<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"French\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Leon Chevalier racing the 2022 Ironman World Champs. (Credit: Ezra Shaw\/Getty Images for Ironman)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

In the second Ironman world champs of the calendar year, L\u00e9on notches up another top-10 finish on his Kona debut when he comes seventh in Hawaii. His bike split was quicker than the existing Kona record, but he\u2019s not the new holder of it. Again it\u2019s compatriot Sam Laidlow, who finishes seconds overall and snips nearly five minutes off the previous best<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

March 2023: Top of the tree at Ironman South Africa<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Now without his chemical engineering studies to balance against his race preparation, L\u00e9on makes the perfect start to the new season in Port Elizabeth, winning comfortably in one of the most high-profile triumphs of his career to date.<\/p>\n

July 2023: Victory in the Vend\u00e9e<\/strong><\/h3>\n

L\u00e9on\u2019s winning ways continue when he takes gold at Ironman 70.3 Les Sables D\u2019Olonne, having posted the fastest splits on both the bike and the run. It\u2019s only his second race at the distance. In third o<\/p>\n

September 2023: His best world champs finish yet<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At his third Ironman world champs, L\u00e9on is unable to capitalise on the events being relocated to his home turf. Still, his fifth place in Nice<\/strong><\/a> edges him closer to the podium. Ahead of him, though, Sam Laidlow becomes the first French Ironman world champ.<\/p>\n

L\u00e9on Chevalier in quotes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

On coming sixth in St George in 2022 at his first-ever Ironman world champs:<\/strong> \u201cI finished 12 minutes behind [winner] Kristian Blummenfelt<\/strong><\/a>, but he\u2019s been totally committed to triathlon for 12 years. I was handing in a dissertation the day before!\u201d<\/p>\n

On choosing to be based in the UK:<\/strong> \u201cI wanted a fresh start and, if I also wanted to give triathlon a proper chance, I needed to put myself in an environment that would help me perform. Bath looked like it would give me that.\u201d<\/p>\n

On keeping a modest profile as a racer:<\/strong> \u201cI don\u2019t trash-talk people. I\u2019ll let the result do the talking. I\u2019d rather be known for being nice than for being a d*******.\u201d<\/p>\n

What\u2019s next for L\u00e9on Chevalier?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Although it marked his best-ever finish at an Ironman world champs, there would have been an element of disappointment for L\u00e9on that he didn\u2019t make the podium on the event\u2019s relocation to France this autumn.<\/p>\n

But, with his studies now in the rear-view mirror, being able to concentrate solely on triathlon will surely reap the Frenchman great rewards in the years to come.<\/p>\n

Top image credit: <\/strong>Pablo Blazquez Dominguez\/Getty Images for Ironman<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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