Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden’s swim-speed secrets

Two of the best triathletes in the world, Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden, have provided exclusive insight into their swim training, courtesy of their swim goggle sponsors, FORM.

The company behind the world’s first augmented-reality swim goggles has released a short film that takes an inside look into the Norwegian pair’s swim training protocol as they continue their 2024 Paris Olympics qualification campaign.

As well as reigning Olympic champion Blummenfelt and Ironman world champion Iden, the video features their coach and sports science guru Olav Aleksander Bu, who talks about how they use data differently than their peers.

The documentary takes place at a high-altitude training centre in Sierra Nevada, Spain, where Olav also reveals how the team optimises swimming technique, maximises efficiency, and achieves peak performance.

The Norwegian team is renowned for its use of sports science in its approach to training – which not all pro triathletes agree with – and the film goes on to explore this convergence of science and athleticism as the limits of human potential in the triathlon world are redefined.

Twenty-seven-year-old Iden will be hoping to vastly improve his short-course swim speed before Paris, as he’s often in the last pack out of the swim in World Triathlon racing. His results so far read: 52nd (Abu Dhabi) and 39th (Yokohama).

Blummenfelt has only raced Yokohama to date, where he finished eighth.

How Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden are improving swim form

Blummenfelt’s mindset secrets

Blummenfelt also recently took to the airwaves for a podcast episode of Mind Set Win for sponsors, Red Bull. In it, the reigning Ironman 70.3 world champion reveals how developing and maintaining an open mindset has helped him dominate the world of triathlon.

The theme of the episode, hosted by Kate Courtney, is what we can learn from Kristian’s mental flexibility and how he’s able to respond and adjust in the face of both success and failure.

“Kristian’s story demonstrates the importance of maintaining flexibility and being willing to adapt in order to keep moving towards your goals,” says Courtney.

Top image credit: Daniel Vazquez_Red Bull Content Pool

Liz Barrett 220 Deputy Editor

About

220 deputy editor Liz Barrett started work on the magazine in 2007 as staff writer. Since then, she’s reported live from almost every major triathlon across the globe, including the Ironman World Championships, 70.3 Worlds, six ITU Worlds, Challenge Roth, the 2014 and 2022 Commonwealths, the London Olympics and the Rio Paralympics, to name but a few. Name a pro and chances are she’ll have interviewed them, so, unsurprisingly, she’s our go-to pro-athlete expert on the team. When not covering races, you’ll find her whipping words into finely-crafted shape for both the magazine and website.