Competitor Patrick Lange embarks on the Ironman World Championship.

Ironman World Championships in Kona: Blummenfelt, Lange, and Philipp Battle for Supremacy

The Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, are gearing up for an exciting showdown, with some of the world's top triathletes vying for glory. Among the favourites are Kristian Blummenfelt, Patrick Lange, and defending champion Laura Philipp.

Kristian Blummenfelt, a three-time triathlon champion and Ironman World Champion, is considered one of the top contenders in this year's competition. The Norwegian athlete made history in 2021 by winning the Olympic gold in Tokyo and followed it up by becoming the Ironman World Champion in St. George in May 2022. He also set a record time in his first Ironman in Cozumel and won the Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt, setting a course record.

Blummenfelt, who is approximately 75 kilograms and stands at either 1.73 or 1.76 meters tall, leaves almost nothing to chance in his training. His creed is that the engine is more important than the exterior, and without power, there's no speed, and without calories, there's no power.

Germany's Patrick Lange, a four-time Ironman champion, is also aiming for a fourth world triumph. To achieve this, he must get past Blummenflet or Sam Laidlow to become the most successful German Ironman in the sport's history. Lange, who is 1.78 meters tall and weighs 65 kilograms according to his own statements, prepared for the event in a high-altitude training camp in St. Moritz. He also has an advantage on the challenging bike course with its climbs and over 2400 meters of elevation due to being a lighter athlete.

Lange's fourth title would bring him closer to the absolute legends of the sport, specifically Mark Allen and Dave Scott, who are six-time champions. However, Sebastian Kienle, Ironman World Champion of 2014, has expressed concern about Blummenflet's weight loss before the competition.

Meanwhile, Laura Philipp is defending her title in the women's competition in Kona. The available search results do not specify who trained the women at the 2025 Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, but Philipp is sure to be a formidable opponent.

From next year, women and men will start together again in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, adding an extra layer of excitement to the event. It promises to be a thrilling showdown, with Blummenfelt, Lange, and Philipp all aiming for victory.