Just a few weeks back, we gave you the unfortunate news of Lucy Charles Barclay pulling out of
the Ironman World Championship due to a hip injury.
To make matters worse, another prominent star has been pushed out of the race due to injuries.
The delayed Ironman 2021 World Championship in Utah will take place without the reigning
men’s World Champion, Jan Frodeno, who is widely regarded as the Greatest Triathlete
of All Time.
Unfortunately, one of the major title contenders will not be able to compete in the World Championship
in Utah.
The defending Champion, Frodo's absence will be a significant blow to an event that the
triathlon world has been anticipating for months.
Not only that, but the absence of Frodo would make the competition even more difficult to
predict.
With the two-time IRONMAN World Champion, Patrick Lange already ruled out due to an
injury, the race is expected to be one of the most challenging races not just for the
competitors but also for the professionals.
In this video, we will give you all the details about Frodo’s unfortunate injury, as well
as his earlier accomplishments.
We will end this video with some build-up to the highly anticipated event in St. George,
Utah.
Welcome to Triathlon Global Insights, the motivation channel for all triathletes.
You may subscribe to our channel and click the notification bell icon to stay updated
on the latest news in the triathlon world.
We keep you updated on triathlon news, incredible races, training tips, and information about
pro athletes.
So now let's get into the video.
The exceptional skills of Jan Frodeno will not be on display in St. George as he suffered
an injury that effectively ruled him out of the competition.
Frodeno shared the terrible news on his Instagram page, where he stated that he had suffered
a slight partial tear in his Achilles tendon.
A partial Achilles tendon tear is a partial tear in the main tendon that connects the
calf muscles to the heel bone.
When the calf muscles are overly contracted, partial tears of the Achilles tendon occur.
A severe contraction might cause the tendon to rip if it is overstressed.
When shifting directions quickly, lunging, or jumping, this is a common occurrence in
triathlons and other sports.
In the same video, he announced his withdrawal from the competition.
“I guess it’s time for an update.
It’s been a tricky time and unfortunately, I have to concede to the fact that I won’t
be on the start line in St George,” the winner of the most recent Ironman world championship
said in the video.
This isn't the first time that Frodo has had to withdraw from such a major event due to
an injury.
Due to injury, the German superstar had to miss out on the same competition due to an
injury in 2018.
But, Frodeno is ready to give up on relatively smaller gains in order to compete in his dream
race, the Ironman Hawaii.
In the video, he expresses his desire to compete in his dream race in Hawaii.
The defending champion has opted not to defend his title in St. George for this reason.
He's set his sights on the treasure of his dreams, and he'll do everything he can to
get it.
And if not managed well, a partial tear can turn into a full-fledged muscle tear.
Professional sportsmen like Frodo strive to be the best and want to progress further.
In the video, he explains how he is wired differently.
He has always maintained that mediocrity is and always will be his enemy and he will do
everything he can to avoid it.
To be the best, you must perform at your maximum, which an injury prevents.
That is why Frodeno has chosen to remain on the sidelines in Utah.
On May 7th, Jan Frodeno was one of the frontrunners to win the title.
Fate surely would not allow that now, but that does not diminish the magnitude of the
achievements that the German has so far accomplished in his career.
He's won an Olympic gold medal, three IRONMAN World Championship titles, two in the IRONMAN
70.3 event, and a long list of the sport's most memorable races.
When he gets back on his feet, there isn't anything that can stop him from winning the
competition.
In terms of season planning, Frodeno and his team are probably the best.
They always make the finest decisions at the right times.
At the same time, they appear unaffected by distractions, have focus on what matters,
and arrive completely prepared to perform.
This planning has been one of the major reasons for his unmatched success over the years.
But no matter how meticulously and detailed your plans are, age catches up.
Frodeno is already in the 40+ category and he knows that overloading his body is the
last thing he needs to do.
The legendary career of the man has rarely seen many downs and it would have been really
interesting how he would have stood his ground against athletes like Iden and Blummenfelt.
The big three have now been reduced to the big two, but the Norwegian duo of Iden and
Blummenfelt will not have an easy race for sure.
The trio of Frodeno, Iden and Blemmenfelt were supposed to be the top draws at St. George.
Frodeno had won an Ironman 70.3 at St. George in 2014 while Iden had achieved the feat just
last year.
Though Blummenfelt has not yet won at St. George, doubting his credentials is going
to be a risk that no one would want to take.
These athletes had an idea of what it takes to come out on top at St. George.
Patrick Lange, the two-time IRONMAN World Champion, is already out of contention after
a bike crash in February.
The departure of Frodeno and Lange leaves a large hole in the Pro Men's start list for
the May 7 event.
Despite some big guns missing out, the Ironman St George is all set to be one of the most
thrilling races of the year due to the sheer unpredictability of the event.
Some big names are missing and that gives an opportunity to some of the lesser-known
athletes to show up on the podium.
As Frodeno’s fans, we might get a bit disappointed but he is trying his best to make a comeback
in Hawaii in the coming October.
Till then we wish him all the very best for a quick recovery.
Also, we will keep you updated about his rehab as soon as any related news comes out.
Also you can tell us about your reaction to this very sad news.
You can also tell your predictions about the much awaited race.
Just go in the comment section and type your heart out.
That ends our video for today!
If you are still here and watching we do hope that you liked the video and if you did you
must hit the subscribe button.
Thank you for watching and staying with me up to the end!
We at Triathlon Global insights, keep you updated on triathlon news, incredible races,
training tips, and information about pro athletes.
You may like, subscribe, and press the notification bell so that you'll be updated on my next
upload!