The Day After HISTORY - Sam Laidlow on Breaking the World Record

00:00:04: In the last six, seven Ks I put myself in a very dark place.

00:00:08: We're here sitting less than twenty-four

00:00:10: hours after

00:00:11: you just hosted... ...a major win at one of the world's biggest races.

00:00:15: You called this in March and broke a world record doing it.

00:00:20: Going mental is having that little bit about you which isn't quite right out of me Which was a bit mental.

00:00:26: They used to follow my dream.

00:00:28: There is nothing more than being best triathlete.

00:00:32: You start out by backing yourself.

00:00:33: Initially, you almost seemed a bit delusional.

00:00:35: I felt like there was an environment where i couldn't voice my dreams anymore... ...I woke up and just knew that's going to have good day!

00:00:42: I told it but said I've got this And I never said that before.. ..you cannot

00:00:46: depend on the

00:00:47: single moment of being happy.

00:00:49: Just strive for peace with myself.

00:00:52: The more at peace your are with yourselves ,the more you can worth

00:00:55: the storms.

00:01:04: Late log going mental.

00:01:05: This is a particularly interesting timing.

00:01:08: I'm glad we locked this in a few weeks ago, I had the bet placed on you.

00:01:12: We're here sitting less than twenty-four hours after you just posted A major win at one of the world's biggest races.

00:01:20: You didn't only do that?

00:01:22: You called us in March and... ...you broke our record doing it.

00:01:27: Sam welcome to show

00:01:29: thanks not him unit.

00:01:30: It's an absolute pleasure.

00:01:33: As you may or may not know, we have a traditional opening question here.

00:01:36: And it is what is going mental to you?

00:01:41: For me I would say going mental just having that little bit about you which is... Not quite right do they say and i think certain athletes are people who work in business or other ventures.

00:01:56: um so they just-they just have that.

00:01:58: y'know when we really know there's a little bit of us That's fine.

00:02:04: We accept it and we don't really care about that, you know?

00:02:07: Like... Yeah!

00:02:09: And I think thats what means to me is i have a part of me which is a bit mental and yeah..I use that so kind of follow my dream.

00:02:20: And not quite right in the sense being out-of-the ordinary looking for more.

00:02:27: What would say is probably thing that describes best.

00:02:32: I would say it's just the, maybe a little bit of selfishness to do what you feel is right for you irrelevant or what other people think and that can be hard on your friends or relationship.

00:02:48: And yeah, I think its just kind backing yourself when not necessarily everyone else believes in your crazy ambitions and stuff.

00:03:02: People do start to believe in your ambitions, and that's great.

00:03:06: I think about sport or triathlons.

00:03:09: is you slowly build this team around people who believe in you And at the end of day it really brings me joy.

00:03:21: The record was one thing but actually my mother-in-law asked what was the highlight?

00:03:28: being there, the whole team all the sponsors?

00:03:32: I think yeah that's what really makes you special.

00:03:37: You mentioned ambition.

00:03:39: where do you think you get yours from?

00:03:41: because i see a lot of athletes around and in sport you'd think it's so black-and-white?

00:03:46: Yes everybody would want this!

00:03:48: Everybody will want to gold medal everyone wants to win.

00:03:50: In business we'll take same thing but I don't find is that way.

00:03:55: What are your thoughts about ambition?

00:03:58: I feel like most people do start with that ambition, you know when it's going to set out again whether being in support of business.

00:04:04: And i think mostly we want the best at a start and then just comes down how many hitsi wins are taken?

00:04:14: How much did he really wanted?

00:04:28: Accepting that this guy's better or this guys better and that's fine.

00:04:31: No now there.

00:04:32: Now they're just happy to be professionally known.

00:04:34: slowly their standards Go down for whatever reason, you know whether it is to keep a balance.

00:04:39: You know in in their life.

00:04:41: four hours have more times of the family up.

00:04:43: And I think yeah It's just comes out into how much do on it?

00:04:48: and That's come coming back to what was saying about being slightly mental with stuff.

00:04:54: Yeah, it sounds bad but there is.

00:04:58: there is nothing I want more than to be the best triathlete in the world.

00:05:01: and um yeah that's part of me, thats mental.

00:05:05: Which is interesting right because i would almost argue like theres a lot self-protection in it cause man it hurts to lose.

00:05:14: or when you set out things and you wanna really go after something its fantastic when all comes together.

00:05:21: but even your young career where You know, things have just to rail completely.

00:05:29: Completely.

00:05:30: and I think As as i was saying before is that like you start out with these kind of we started by backing yourself And initially almost seem a bit delusional too.

00:05:40: most people then slowly Slowly get this kind of light?

00:05:44: He does build a small team in network around you.

00:05:47: That's when it starts to flourish.

00:05:49: but yeah mean our eyes to be.

00:05:51: in the end they're kind of like junior French Federation more pelier and I just realized that was training with a load of talented athletes.

00:06:02: And, uh...I felt like there's an environment where i can say- I couldn't voice my dreams anymore because suddenly I was trained in people who thought were more talented than me!

00:06:14: There are ten guys in Pelier we could all probably beat.

00:06:17: so why would I claim to be world champion you know?

00:06:21: So I had to leave the and surround myself with people that believed in me.

00:06:26: And at the very start, only people who believe in you generally offer me or working up for my parents did.

00:06:32: Yeah they believe to meet from day one and then yeah obviously now as you get results on staff lots of people do believe it.

00:06:40: You're probably more than I did by self?

00:06:43: It sort becomes inevitable right when we come back guy-to-beat.

00:06:47: um...and..it really is so much about environment!

00:06:54: I feel like you're one of the few athletes for whom triathlon was chosen.

00:07:01: It's part of your family, it's a whole construct where everything started.

00:07:07: take us into that so people don't

00:07:10: know.

00:07:11: My family moved to France when i was three years old and set up a triathlon training camp business.

00:07:19: they were both kind bit done with their life over in the UK and their jobs there.

00:07:23: And they just thought, why not?

00:07:24: worst case?

00:07:26: Worst-case?

00:07:27: we enjoy two years in France then move back to the U.K.. I think that also did it kind of because They thought that It would be a nice environment to raise your child In...in That sense i was really lucky Because We had this household where I have people coming into The house eating with us.

00:07:44: it Was very kind Of family orientated training camp and Every week I meet new People all with the same passion, but from totally different walks of life.

00:07:54: you know one we've got anything from like prime ministers to like pole dancers in there.

00:08:02: In the same room.

00:08:02: yeah that's I mean I'll get a couple bit.

00:08:07: and

00:08:07: uh

00:08:09: so i just kind of... From very early age people were telling me the amount of champion in it.

00:08:18: It's just a natural process and I never really questioned that, to be fair my parents never forced me into doing travel though they almost...I was doing loads different sports but i was just adamant like in my head i think..i was surrounded by someone who were only talking about Ironman and Ironman will challenge us in Co-In especially.

00:08:38: so naturally became the goal for.

00:08:43: And then when I did win the world championships in these and twenty three, I had a bit of a moment where.

00:08:50: I started questioning actually is this really what i want or was it just kind of pushed into this?

00:09:01: Yeah so I would say for free months.

00:09:05: if you're wondering whether that's really what I wanted The fact that these are the cards I've been dealt with and they're freaking cool.

00:09:15: Cards, you know we got to use them.

00:09:18: It's the best of my ability to play again And then and like also generally believe that triathlon is one of the best sports to be a professional simply because it's rare to kind of beat your own boss in in in a professional sport where You can and decent living?

00:09:38: Or if you're a Formula One driver or cyclist, the better you get.

00:09:47: The more support and everything is controlled for you but equally... You are still just an employee like you get told to go here and there.

00:09:56: And likely the more you get paid.. ...the more things have to do!

00:10:01: For us in traffic when we get to do it on our terms which was amazing We get to choose our own team and I think that's also part of the challenge which makes draft on so unique is That once you get a good result Things start getting more complicated.

00:10:16: It's almost opposite than all.

00:10:17: formula one Is there.

00:10:18: he don't go if your cyclist?

00:10:20: You're in a bad team Your probably cooking for yourself, you driving through the races And then get into better teams.

00:10:25: somebody had a physio and etc.. Everything's getting taken care over and i think thats why In other sports you see people dominate for so long either or teams, and for us it's almost becomes more complicated.

00:10:39: So when I first went to Kona in Cane II everything was so simple you know no one didn't have to think about anything.

00:10:47: i just felt like over holiday with my dad.

00:10:48: we went over there had an amazing race And then suddenly following year World Championship in France...I'm racing for France.

00:10:58: You obviously have media commitments on every thing.

00:11:04: When I first got kind of thrown into that, and i think it's quite common in athletes when they get sponsors.

00:11:14: They feel like they owe their sponsors.

00:11:16: this is the time to have to capitalize on them you know?

00:11:19: And we can't say no!

00:11:20: That one thing but its really difficult not to understand.

00:11:29: But there a skill Kip Shogi, his main thing is vitamin N. He's head up in our list of vitamins and yeah something vitamin

00:11:38: O saying no

00:11:40: you Yeah You it's difficult to still be a nice guy and have for him an end.

00:11:46: Yeah I guess so that really is one of those things right because on one hand It's also nice That all of the sudden all these people won To essentially give you stuff.

00:11:56: I mean they have their motives here, right?

00:11:57: But in the moment It's just nice to get attention and get this stuff And whatever or what ever comes with it.

00:12:03: but before we go there i Just want to quickly touch on The fact that new went to font remer which is an altitude camp for many professional athletes.

00:12:15: That kind of go.

00:12:16: therefore You know two or three weeks.

00:12:19: I always called it the training prison, and in some of those places...I was joking because windows aren't quite big enough to jump out.

00:12:26: It's just that kind as a one-horse town at altitude which is built specifically for the nineteen sixty eight Olympics.

00:12:33: And you were there in boarding school?

00:12:35: Yeah so i was determined to become professional triathlete.

00:12:39: but already when i was eleven twelve i started talking with my parents about this kind of like triathlon section that was there in front of me and then at thirteen I did the test to get it.

00:12:54: And although is an altitude, there's all sorts different sports... The Triathlon section i would say as more a hand-of-leisure triathlon club.

00:13:03: but you had slightly less school and a little bit sort of plans to train.

00:13:09: so yeah thats what I won!

00:13:12: I always found score quite easy, but it just really didn't interest me.

00:13:18: And so yeah when i had the opportunity to get straight away and funny story is that there was...I remember the test was a two hundred meter swim in a thousand-meter run Austin Federation as they don't do cycling.

00:13:32: Yeah!

00:13:32: That's true.

00:13:33: actually we had the same thing in Germany.

00:13:35: I

00:13:36: think other six people came fifth out of six.

00:13:40: There were only three spots And so initially I didn't get taken.

00:13:44: This was like the most basic level of traffic on section, and then there's this weird thing where no more spaces in a year above for two people that got selected were in an year above So they couldn't take them.

00:13:57: but it rolled down to me basically But I swam three minutes.

00:14:03: twelve at two hundred

00:14:07: meters.

00:14:10: I learned to swim when i was fifteen.

00:14:13: That sucked at that age!

00:14:15: You probably could have still done it as well, but it's great.

00:14:19: and yeah the run was like three-twenty or something... Yeah so I've never really felt particularly talented.

00:14:29: Well..I would say my talent in triathlon has been my brain, depending on what you're saying making the right decisions and learning from, from the bad decisions more than any kind of natural ability I would say.

00:14:47: That's obviously like really interesting in terms of such a physical sport where everybody thinks you know two hundred twenty six kilometers an year out there it is just repetition and hardening and stealing the body.

00:15:00: your mind take me into.

00:15:02: how do make those good decisions?

00:15:04: How are feel that you're able to avoid costly mistakes and how you're able to learn from setbacks.

00:15:14: So my goal had always been Ironman, kind of the normal route that say before was for people generally going into a short course career then too long distance And very early on I kind of questioned it and i think i'm someone who questions everything a lot sometimes to my detriment, so it's my dad who coaches me.

00:15:40: It is detriment.

00:15:40: but yeah I think that questioning has been My greatest strength and also my biggest weakness because this is knowing.

00:15:52: the hardest thing for me is knowing when to just hold on that second longer.

00:15:58: let go, you know?

00:15:59: That's so hard.

00:16:00: You know whether it be when your training through kind of fatigue or illness.

00:16:05: I'm always in that fine line between knowing if i should just get a little bit more or hold back and listen to the body And I think that's really difficult for endurance athletes.

00:16:16: Now I've deviated a bit and gone

00:16:19: off like this No no don't... Just take me into your mind Basically do have process to make those decisions.

00:16:27: You say they're very difficult and I feel like every athlete goes about it their way.

00:16:31: but do you have a matrix where, okay this is what i'd do if not this.

00:16:35: or is it instinctive?

00:16:37: It's the good question that has been making me think now.

00:16:40: But looking back um...I'm someone who always questions the logic of something.

00:16:46: Um..i remember refusing To learn The order at Alphabet when I was a kid.

00:16:52: because What's the point?

00:16:55: what's the point of having, I knew all that...I knew all the letters.

00:16:58: Yeah why do i need to know?

00:17:00: yeah well you know it was so fun.

00:17:03: and um i kind of always had that same thing.

00:17:06: So when i was doing short course i was like okay All these guys they're having a short-course career then They go into long distance Um And generally It's taking them three or four five years To gain enough experience in Long Distance to have A good race now and to finally Kind Of uh have all the pieces of the puzzle.

00:17:26: but by that time I was thinking these guys are thirty-five or whatever.

00:17:30: That's not their athletic peak, you know.

00:17:32: So surely if i start trying to get the piece as a puzzle As early as possible.

00:17:37: Yeah Oh then hopefully be good by this time on twenty six twenty seven twenty eight and um yeah so that Was always my mentality in them?

00:17:45: You had did.

00:17:45: my first iron distance instrument was eighteen.

00:17:49: First official memory is twenty And during this time, I was still gaining experience.

00:17:53: So it's very lucky to...I was doing a French Grand Prix which is kind of outside the World Series in short course probably from that densest race as i would say so already at fourteen fifteen and I was lining up on sprint track with Alastair and Gomez all these stuff..and always just right in middle of the pack you know but I'm never gonna contend to win or anything!

00:18:21: the best friend, and the best team I would say over the last twenty years in general.

00:18:26: And often i'd come out slightly behind of a swim compared to the breakaway group.

00:18:31: plus you're always known for having like three or four five great spinners.

00:18:35: so I wasn't even allowed to ride back to the front.

00:18:37: So just kind of always went unnoticed.

00:18:40: that was fine.

00:18:40: and um...I remember one day.. I was on the start line at one of these Grand Prix's and it was just like.... I had this weird feeling about not wanting to be there not understanding why I would be on a star line that i didn't believe I could win.

00:18:52: and for me it was splinter switch.

00:18:54: And now, okay right?

00:18:55: Now im gonna just do my own thing.

00:18:58: yeah

00:18:59: you're in those situations.

00:19:01: and same thing You make into this triathlon let's call it academy or team of the federation lack of better term.

00:19:12: your in proceed going path That is meant to be the path for French triathletes.

00:19:18: You know, I think that history's very much more around the Olympic part of this sport.

00:19:22: and you choose again... ...to go another way.

00:19:26: coming back to your mind What makes you take that choice?

00:19:29: Do say at start line Is it a gut feeling where?

00:19:32: like..you know what This actually going against my grain ?

00:19:35: What make u be Like?

00:19:37: okay i need to pivot here Rather than hold on And just be everyone else.

00:19:41: Just try in other five years Get smack over head.

00:19:44: What makes you pivot?

00:19:46: Um, I think it's partly partly that gut feeling.

00:19:48: but also was the aspect That i didn't feel like i was more talented than anyone else.

00:19:53: So why if i did the same thing as everyone else would be better?

00:19:57: so in my head It was like.

00:19:59: I've got to do something different.

00:20:00: uh To try and one up them.

00:20:02: um And at the time it looked Everyone around me among pelion stuff they thought might Like.

00:20:09: that's it.

00:20:09: My career is over because it's really selective.

00:20:13: The French juniors are probably the best juniors of all the countries and there was only like two guys that got selected every two years or so to be able to train in Montpellier, I was lucky enough to be part of that um... And i stepped away kind of said no to all that support and lived in Girona actually way before well back when pretty much only you were there, and me.

00:20:42: And yeah I was swimming a few lanes down from you in the good old days where it's pretty quiet...

00:20:50: How do we ever set

00:20:51: a load?

00:20:53: I'm not for that!

00:20:54: I just wanted to give your time mate like yeah um what they're saying get them.

00:21:03: i'd then eventually run out of money be back home asked my dad to coach me and the rest of history.

00:21:11: I have my suspicion about why you didn't say hello, i almost think that in your mind... You were always wanting to win?

00:21:18: And you will always want it be best?

00:21:21: No,

00:21:22: it's genuinely not!

00:21:23: I mean..I think you had more that in you.

00:21:26: Yeah definitely do.

00:21:28: ,i'm totally reverse of flying kit

00:21:30: For me was really like.... I just respected your time I don't know, that was my main thing to say.

00:21:45: But yeah i remember once in particular when i expressed the mafia or something and you were there with... Maybe your parents, maybe a dog or something.

00:21:51: A big dog?

00:21:52: My dog!

00:21:53: Yeah, Duke he's still around yeah... He is still around.

00:21:55: nowadays you probably can't go into that same coffee shop in the intro house.

00:21:59: Well you certainly cant.

00:22:01: I mean You've had a crazy change of things.

00:22:05: Go fast forward little bit.

00:22:06: twenty-twenty three niece Your first world title And i remember crossing paths as seeing..you know ..your journey about to take off.

00:22:19: And afterwards, we met around the beach clubs.

00:22:27: I think we shared a glass of champagne and it was obviously kind of from the highs and lows of sport meeting together even though i wouldn't say its high or low.

00:22:35: your dad came to my after party closing thing had few beers And your life took off.

00:22:43: All of a sudden, you were like Forbes thirty under thirty.

00:22:45: You had all these kind of outside influences Come up on you.

00:22:51: How did that change from the influencers when you are sitting at home and all The people thinking you're going to be an Iron Man World champion?

00:22:58: Then also in the whole world looks upon you and Sees you differently.

00:23:04: Yeah I think i had A small moment where I lost my own identity during them three months because Suddenly I thought I was the shit.

00:23:12: You know,

00:23:14: and like...I

00:23:16: just- I felt that it's gonna win!

00:23:17: That is going to go back to World Championship when every year because you see..you know?

00:23:21: Because i had such a rough preparation leading into that World Championship.

00:23:26: so I was like much better than this.

00:23:28: they're not ready for what's gonna come.

00:23:30: but then yeah kind of you never know whats around corner in sport.

00:23:37: Yeah, I think what's difficult to deal with as well is that suddenly obviously when you're good or they have a few people follow you just in general whether it be like... A bigger amount of followers.

00:23:50: These people are effectively fans and so People aren't telling the truth You know?

00:23:55: Like..I was probably a bit of a dick.

00:23:57: Am I allowed to swear on this?

00:23:59: Totally!

00:23:59: Okay let it rip Let It Rip.

00:24:01: I would say join them for three months And then I got a bit cocky and arrogant And yeah, everyone's loving me because no one is going to come and say stop being like that.

00:24:13: I think it's really important for people around you who keep you grounded whether they be your partner or in family.

00:24:25: My parents have always been the way... The education they gave was just letting me learn from my own mistakes.

00:24:36: My parents never tell me to do my homework.

00:24:37: They don't ever really tell me off.

00:24:39: But equally I was not bad child that wasn't doing crazy stuff, but That was a moment where i think they could have been like okay So bring it right down there and hold

00:24:50: it.

00:24:51: Yeah, but its three months Like you have to find yourself?

00:24:54: I mean It sounds like your parents allowed You To Find Yourself At Some Stage And I Think A Lot Of Praise Coming Like From Zero To Here Or I Could Definitely Relate Like I I Think May Have Been

00:25:04: Through

00:25:05: Three or four months for us definitely way off

00:25:08: the rails.

00:25:10: And I don't think that kind of praise is a natural thing That all of a sudden comes.

00:25:14: like if you look at social media, no If you think about it.

00:25:18: You have a hundred followers There's a hundred people looking At your life and they feel Like to know you through that lens?

00:25:24: And all of A sudden there's a Hundred thousand People like if.

00:25:27: imagine them sitting around Us right now Looking at Your Life studying like It's not really a Natural process

00:25:34: all of them to have their own opinion, you know?

00:25:36: And it's like before in your entire life.

00:25:39: You'd only meet probably the few people in your village and then maybe the village next door now or something.

00:25:45: I mean we're both... We've both been in a relationship with Australians.

00:25:49: One number happened four years ago.

00:25:51: They'll

00:25:51: cut it down very fast.

00:25:55: So you have The outside influence but you keep bringing It back To the team Like Your first words after We did it.

00:26:08: Yesterday after the record, similar words where for you?

00:26:11: It's so much about the team.

00:26:13: I asked what is a take to win a world-record and just between doping control we hadn't had food yet And i was like oh god!

00:26:21: I feel so bad for bothering this guy right now.

00:26:23: But talking about respecting time You were like...it takes A bloody good team Of a medal or how much of the metal do you think actually belongs to the team?

00:26:40: Nine nine percent probably like.

00:26:42: we're just weird.

00:26:44: as long is you Give them best for yourself on one race day, and then all the lead up that You've just got to trust the people that you surrounded your self with.

00:26:54: And that's what I find.

00:26:55: The most difficult from my grave.

00:26:57: some always someone who questions even My teams opinions and everything.

00:27:03: so for them to have stuck by me that long, it means they really like being up there because I was just being like okay stop questioning now let's move on.

00:27:14: And yeah i think...i'm generally a big believer that good things happen to people and Like..I wouldn't say my team are not- I haven't even picked em' cause i think they're the best at this in the world.

00:27:34: I've picked them because they're good, and i really trust them.

00:27:38: And are a great people like humans you know?

00:27:43: That's what counts for me anyway!

00:27:46: How have built my career...and how want to end my career?

00:27:50: if we had a good moment it was great.

00:27:53: We can all celebrate equally on our bad day..I'm still surrounded by great people that I trust.

00:27:58: so I always just made decisions based on the guidance thing too.

00:28:03: I find that such a relevant point, right?

00:28:05: Because we're not trying to solve rocket science here.

00:28:07: We are not trying go the moon or saving lives doing any of those things.

00:28:13: so i always thought about character and how they do stick around when you have bad phase which is kind of inevitably going to come.

00:28:26: So then everything else along way can learn just like your learning.

00:28:30: I think

00:28:31: the people that are around you, they're not gonna fuck up lost swallowing aside.

00:28:41: They know what's going on!

00:28:43: This is quite impressive honestly like just for... For the listeners who don't have a context Like i remember after Going as deep As You did yesterday which we'll get to in a second Like sometimes i would sit at A conversation like At a long table and i'd look someone In The face And i'd Just be hearing voices Which comes again, it's like mentally fatiguing right?

00:29:05: It is crazy how I forgot this morning.

00:29:13: My girlfriend has got some creatine in the flat and that was... I remember reading some research.

00:29:16: you can commentate for lack of sleep

00:29:18: by if you take it.

00:29:19: The Stephen Badlet yeah!

00:29:21: And i thought i have to do before he spoke but then i forgot.

00:29:24: so far Yeah..i've had a bad coffee A lot of sleep and a few beers.

00:29:31: Yeah,

00:29:32: I know and a good dose of creatine.

00:29:34: Oh

00:29:35: god you forgot the creatine?

00:29:36: No no if only unfortunately that was The same guy who said after three days of After Three glasses of wine his His next three days were ruined And he couldn't quite make

00:29:46: sense

00:29:47: to seeing how people get so caught up on the metrics.

00:29:51: Coming back to the team You said earlier

00:29:54: That

00:29:55: kind Of the little bit crazy thing that high performers have or that you find, is a slightly selfish pursuit.

00:30:03: That you have this deep belief?

00:30:05: Do you think that's in contrast to being a team player?

00:30:11: I feel it's almost a certain sacrifice because when your... When you're in and making themselfish decisions You kind of banking on it Being A moment for the teams enjoy later on.

00:30:25: And i think It's only then mental person.

00:30:29: but that slight That's slightly meant to part of the person that knows, that knows what can happen.

00:30:36: You know for me it is okay.

00:30:38: now I'm gonna whether i am not going have a beer and see you or go out.

00:30:42: but this time tomorrow we are going to wake up with this time.

00:30:45: And sorry if I need to eat now But you don't say this.

00:30:50: We're going enjoy Lucky Ray Time Rock.

00:30:54: So yeah That's a cool... We're just, I think we are betting man.

00:31:02: You know?

00:31:02: that is the thing how i can describe it.

00:31:05: Yeah!

00:31:05: I like that idea of paying off and being kind of yeah joint celebration because you realize sport It is one thing.

00:31:13: but um..I found a quote from your We give so much for ourselves For such short moment Of clarity Which was in one of your documentaries right where What I read into it is how you give so much every single day of kind of managing, holding back trying to do the right thing for a moment where at all just pays off.

00:31:40: Right?

00:31:41: Two points.

00:31:44: I think in general professional athletes they're people that are like lifestyles.

00:31:49: You know there happy take those as long as everything's very soft and then get high.

00:31:54: it's kind of almost the opposite, let's say a fixed salary job where I would say your life is... and that some are not saying this bad at all.

00:32:05: There're different people who are happy just knowing what time they have to wake up And they know you had weekends for free etc.

00:32:12: But i'd rather experience three crazy days in my life.

00:32:18: Sounds like you should not move to Las Vegas dude.

00:32:20: It wouldn't be good place for you.

00:32:24: Alright We've got to come for the big day.

00:32:28: I obviously saw your interviews earlier, it was a march already that you said coming out here calling the shots then... You're defending champion which means naturally you'd be assigned number one and see on start line with twenty three And i'm like twenty-three.

00:32:51: That's Jordan!

00:32:52: Michael Jordan greatest of all time.

00:32:55: That's a statement, that is what I read into it.

00:32:58: What your go with the twenty-three?

00:33:00: For me, twenty three has just always become my lucky number.

00:33:04: There are few things like... My dad was born on twenty third and i'm one of my first world titles in twenty thirties and there were loads of things because of them anyway And obviously Michael Jordan Yeah!

00:33:18: So many small thing that kept popping up.

00:33:22: Yeah, good things happened for me around that number.

00:33:26: And yeah I just bit the words of Felix like this is one race where it's a little big difference to Ironman.

00:33:33: you know they do their thing on their own terms.

00:33:35: and uh i said yeah can I have them at twenty three?

00:33:38: And he spoke sure!

00:33:41: So okay and um yep The first time ever as well Like got it sprayed on my helmet everything...and Um..I also liked the idea of You know how in basketball athletes have their number and that's it, you know.

00:33:54: I think it could be cool in... And i've always been of the thing that triathlon is.

00:34:00: if you look at it from The outside In a most simplistic way It's quite boring sport to make entertaining.

00:34:06: You know we're doing endurance sports.

00:34:09: There are non-drafting and there's just yourself who gonna sit down on watch Seven and an hour hours Of us doing endurance sport always, I thought.

00:34:21: how can we make this more interesting?

00:34:24: because i grew up as a kid surrounded by triathletes and that's what was passionate about it.

00:34:30: but one of my biggest goals has been to just make the kids think triathlon is cool.

00:34:38: Because like I remember in school saying I want to be professional triathlite once you know when your really young they might say well do you wanna do job later on?

00:34:49: Sebi, it was a similar story actually.

00:34:51: Yeah and they were like no that's not a job.

00:34:55: Watch me!

00:34:58: And even at the time my parents we didn't... They followed me blindly into this project where We don't know how professional I am but they just supported me because That is why i wanted to do But had no idea of everything that happens with it whether the demands or all those finances, but it's great.

00:35:20: But we can even realize and yeah so I was kind of...I don't want another kid to have that same experience.

00:35:29: basically if a kid goes to teach on complexion triathlete then i would teach him like cool right?

00:35:36: And once I want them to accept this just as much when their kids says i'm gonna be a doctor they're maybe too big of a goal for me alone.

00:35:45: But yeah, so anything you can kind of take from other sports.

00:35:49: You know everybody says I want to be a professional football adult the like most parents are like let's give up at uni football club and see if they're good because now They know that Ronaldo is driving around in a Ferrari and all this.

00:36:02: And it's saying This Is A bit Of A balance That i find Difficult In The sport.

00:36:07: It's Let's say or actually first time i met I saw you in your Porsche, and...I don't know.

00:36:19: What year it was?

00:36:19: It was unfortunately at Laurel's funeral And everyone thought about you arriving In a fancy car or stuff.

00:36:30: For me its difficult to know Like lets say that you're a triathlete and buy A really nice car ever Or..a nice house of something You are showing that you have money Seems like a selfish stupid thing but Unfortunately also having a positive impact on kids and families, you know?

00:36:49: Because there's so many people.

00:36:51: I still get asked today like do i learn the lithic chrysanthemum?

00:36:55: And especially for us but it feels that in many places maybe Germany is more common knowledge of say professional sport.

00:37:04: But um...I think thats a shame because if we want to make this sport grow We need We need to look at it long-term and you need kids obviously, do the sport.

00:37:18: And bring a level up so that they become more common sports.

00:37:22: At the minute parents are throwing their kids into football clubs because everyone knows Renato drives a Ferrari or whatever... I find that difficult because i don't want to show them money but equally as part of me especially after when I won the World Championship, so it's like or should i because then maybe you know say...I still to this day find that quite complicated.

00:37:48: Um..i think um more of the opinion a lot of like thing on past that black phase and just want do what makes me happy y'know?

00:37:58: And just focus again on surrounding myself with good people and me simplifying my life.

00:38:05: I mean- I think thats one really important thing is When I had success.

00:38:10: Suddenly everything becomes more complicated and actually what brings you success in the first place is The simplicity of your life from that out.

00:38:18: What's so hard for us to?

00:38:20: To keep when we do?

00:38:22: when he didn't start having good results?

00:38:24: Yeah, I couldn't agree more and i don't think A Porsche Is a great way to motivate young kids to get into sport In general.

00:38:32: it's one of those things.

00:38:33: It's either one of your childhood Dreams or not And You can fulfill

00:38:38: if If I want to follow this part.

00:38:42: Yeah, you don't

00:38:42: know it?

00:38:43: You don't no just whatever you do.

00:38:45: please don't start posting yourself flying around in private jet going to training camps.

00:38:50: um i think the simplicity is probably a large piece of your success.

00:38:54: but coming back to number twenty three and what you do with it Do you hold...I mean technically speaking A superstition..do It's something that athletes are just known for.

00:39:13: No, I think it is the only one but... I feel like especially this race here really got me to start line about three weeks ago.

00:39:23: Me and my girlfriend have a bog standard virus infection And we were both pretty bad in two week.

00:39:30: So first weekend was fine But then it's better now than the week of the race.

00:39:35: Secondly still been in bed.

00:39:38: I don't think i should race and it was really like on the fence whether i should be racing or not.

00:39:44: And i'm just holding onto this small thing that, no there's something That i feel deep down.

00:39:52: negative starts could align.

00:39:55: yeah it turned out to be true yesterday during a race.

00:40:02: i did everything well but nothing.

00:40:05: Nothing was exceptional in regards to my own lab.

00:40:08: No, I mean it's difficult.

00:40:10: say oh when you put When you put three grade like good before this goods for them and a good bike and the could run together Like on of course where everything sell that is here in Roth?

00:40:22: um i'm able To beat the word record but It was just uh From purely from an athletic perspective.

00:40:29: It was quite a standard day.

00:40:31: I would say have done better.

00:40:32: I'd say in the past.

00:40:35: There was just something about, I woke up and...I knew that i would have a good day.

00:40:43: I don't think ever said it.

00:40:45: as I kissed Malan my partner before going to the race so I told her I've got this!

00:40:50: And never said that before.

00:40:53: I dont know where confidence came from because Christian has been dominating every race since the start of year.

00:41:02: But

00:41:04: yeah, I just back myself.

00:41:07: Which again comes back to what you're saying earlier about being that slightly a little bit crazy from the outside?

00:41:15: I don't really think it is from the out side but you make a really interesting point there yesterday when i saw at the finish line and You were just walking And I said wow dude That was nuts especially because The old record Was current.

00:41:30: assisted in the swim You beat it like fair and square.

00:41:34: I mean, there's no help here.

00:41:35: we were out there And watching you.

00:41:38: the first thing he said Was that's got to be the world record with the lowest numbers ever referring to the lowest

00:41:44: power?

00:41:46: someone they've ridden on a bike

00:41:48: Few

00:41:49: months ago weeks ago.

00:41:50: whenever you win another iron man by nineteen minutes No less.

00:41:56: First thing apparently i wasn't there you said your dad was like oh but my run was shit.

00:42:01: What's up with the asterix like?

00:42:06: why lead?

00:42:07: With the Asterix.

00:42:08: Yeah, I woke up this morning and I can really sleep after nine man.

00:42:16: And When?

00:42:18: so when my girlfriend finally woke up one of those things that said was It's like about my brain.

00:42:25: The whole night had been thinking like about what could have got better in and walk like Why certain things happened.

00:42:33: Yeah, I think this is just the way we're wired and it's unfortunate.

00:42:38: Maybe it makes us not appreciate enough what we've achieved but equally would never achieve or have a team without that.

00:42:46: And yeah i don't know until like as long as I keep that mentality... ...I always do alright in sport.

00:42:53: The day I probably lose that then That's when things will start to get downhill.

00:42:56: But yeah.. I remember A fun little story We met for first official time in South Africa and riding trip.

00:43:07: And, In my head you'd kind of done it all like... You could have retired already a year or two before this trip was the end-of-year nose ace coming up.

00:43:21: I was like that's gonna be great we can enjoy some beers.

00:43:28: We got invited to this party.

00:43:30: It starts get late We're in this wine cellar and I was like, oh to work towards your plan now.

00:43:36: So it'll be honest you've got a plan for the rest of that?

00:43:40: Pretty well...I don't know how i phrased but In my head what are we gonna do with the timeline right now?

00:43:46: And then he said I'm going come to Nice so I am going beat girl Jesus Christ Jesus Christ.

00:43:54: This guy is even more mad at me.

00:43:58: Yeah It's weird right That ability not let go And it's nothing I'm proud of.

00:44:03: now, you know?

00:44:03: You're like Jesus Christ.

00:44:05: Is really necessary to be an asshole or a kid that is coming into the sport and just living his dream but at the same time... ...I always think when those kind things hit the right ears It actually becomes fuel for fire which in my opinion what should do as athlete if want make sure motivate next generation?

00:44:29: all these records?

00:44:30: And then it comes to the point that I think you've made indirectly, That the achievement... The actual record might not even be so much of a point.

00:44:45: Like how would describe your goal in terms.

00:44:50: where do go from here?

00:44:53: One main takeaway is winning my World Championship in Nice and three months ago I struggled afterwards.

00:45:01: I spent so long thinking one world title would make me happy for the rest of my life, you know?

00:45:09: And... You realize that actually this instant if you- whatever.

00:45:16: The twenty four hours where it crossed a finish line then you celebrate and went.

00:45:19: It's literally..it is a calendar and comes past like this and it comes and goes and....and.....you cannot depend on A single moment to be happy, y'know.

00:45:31: And I think since then, I've kind of gone away from chasing this state of happiness.

00:45:37: But rather... ...I just strive to be a piece with myself and I genuinely believe that good things will happen from there.

00:45:47: Now when you're at peace for yourself also the tough moments are fine You know?

00:45:51: It's like if shit is the fan.

00:45:56: Okay it's bad day but i'm still really at peace Myself, my family and everything that I have in life.

00:46:06: And the more at peace you are with yourself... ...the more you can just wait for storms!

00:46:15: That's one thing where i've really gone away from chasing a certain time or goal.

00:46:23: Now there is this last documentary about that reference.

00:46:28: The theme was water.

00:46:30: I was kind of looking up how i could integrate the water element into instant documentary and talking about flow.

00:46:41: And we chased a flow state, but like... The water in the river doesn't worry about the mountain or things got to get around because it will always find the sea you know?

00:46:56: It's not about finding the sea.

00:46:58: The flow, you know and the stronger.

00:47:01: The flow quick you'll get to this seat.

00:47:03: So yeah that's just for the last few months I'd say.

00:47:07: does how i've been going about my

00:47:10: life?

00:47:10: Going into a race Where things didn't go perfect For you in the sense That maybe people may have missed.

00:47:21: You had to walk at one stage In the marathon or he chose too.

00:47:24: He told his story better And you've had that moment in the past, right?

00:47:31: Where your... where you weren't able to rely on your body doing what your mind is a hundred percent set on doing.

00:47:42: What went through your mind like how did you deal with...?

00:47:44: Did you have panic?

00:47:47: What was going through

00:47:49: it?

00:47:49: Yeah if there's way of kind of registering what goes on and in our brains for an Iron Man will be scary I think people would probably pass Sort of an hospital, but um yeah I kind of went through a mix the emotions.

00:48:03: Um i Well on already on the bike II I Couldn't.

00:48:10: I felt like I couldn't ride to my ability because I have this thing.

00:48:13: sometimes we'll have lack-of-blood flow go to my left leg and It had it really badly yesterday.

00:48:20: And so I was kind of doing five minutes Of my normal watts.

00:48:23: then I would like sit up in that Rico who was riding remain take a turn and blood come back in the right five minutes to get it.

00:48:30: It's

00:48:31: quite the compliment.

00:48:32: So No, I mean these I can still pedal is just extremely uncomfortable.

00:48:37: so I don't need a lot massively from that.

00:48:39: And i'm very grateful that ricoz also there so like good sometimes let off the gas.

00:48:46: But then its way men has done.

00:48:47: when I came on set of run like I pushed maybe ten or fifteen watts less than what I was hoping for on the bike which Men theoretically had that extra energy on the run.

00:48:57: And yeah, I felt good and in control when i was running at a similar pace to Christian who came off the bike twelve minutes behind... That's this thing with long distance triathlons where you just know what can happen!

00:49:19: Last time we went to Kona I came off the bike and it was a six minute lead or something.

00:49:25: And at calm to ten, I remember asking James Mitchell this one of their videographers for Omen asked him what time we'd swam because I want...I was trying to calculate what time that's due break.

00:49:37: I wasn't even thinking about filming second.

00:49:41: Then three K later on not even walking straight whatever it is, turn twenty seven K to hobble across the line.

00:49:51: And yeah so that's equally what I've always liked about Iron Man as part of the unknown.

00:49:58: you know?

00:50:00: You can be the fittest athlete but soon as racing kind of any more than five hours or something anything could happen and then do have a very special day to go the distance.

00:50:14: You don't only have this on race day though right like come out and we've sort of spoken about it, but in your overall preparation relying on the tool that we athletes need most our bodies is not always in your cards.

00:50:37: On race day I think we're always prepared to have very best abilities And everybody's very ambitious.

00:50:44: But on a daily basis, that's kind of what you rely on I would say like this kind of evidence-based right?

00:50:51: You have these performances.

00:50:52: then you say two weeks before Where you were building negative evidence because you had me out of virus something came down but it seems to be Like a recurring theme for you.

00:51:02: do you think... ...you just become calmer over time weathering the storms?

00:51:08: Definitely i think we've experienced and thats why chose to go into.

00:51:14: And so, early because I just wanted to accumulate that experience as soon as possible.

00:51:19: It's trusting your own body and using the experience of making decisions on Wednesday before the race.

00:51:31: this time...I felt like i needed quite a big session which normally is probably not my best thing.

00:51:41: Funnily enough, I did a hundred and twenty-three kilometres to run.

00:51:47: And I did it at the same watts or faster run pace than on race day.

00:51:53: but... ...I just needed to know that my body could still do that.

00:51:59: Physiologically probably wasn't the best thing because there was some fatigue from Wednesday.

00:52:03: But then at least for the last three four days i was confident.

00:52:11: Yeah, it's weird right?

00:52:12: How we kind of need to build our confidence over these things even that you've done a thousand times in practice and preparation.

00:52:19: But I was more referring your overall health journey like coming here...I heard some stories, Epstein Bar virus was thrown around And having to manage that on day-to-day basis.

00:52:33: Like take me into that because for me It always had to be very smooth.

00:52:39: It's still that way to be fair.

00:52:43: I don't think i'm an athlete who is like very prone to injury, but my thing is that I just have these bouts of extreme fatigue That it's not even on a day-to-day basis.

00:52:54: So kind of feel normal.

00:52:55: But I'll start training and it feels like someone's just pulled the plug.

00:52:59: And if I push almost like he almost goes towards like feeling like I'm paralyzed almost then literally Just can't knit gently.

00:53:08: sometimes it just happens for a day or two, three and then you kind of... It's okay if I rest properly but at the start last year.

00:53:17: For first three months i was pretty much pretty out.

00:53:20: so last year before Roth average eleven hours training per week from January to Roth because they've spent their first three month doing nothing.

00:53:31: yeah that really ...I thought like got to bottom.

00:53:36: But this year, I was wanting to be a marathoner at the start of the year.

00:53:43: Just stand-alone marathon and it's more for me work on my weaknesses in that free reach out from the marathon.

00:53:50: same thing happens until last three weeks leading into Marathon while he was just shutting down every session.

00:53:55: And yeah i'm still yet to get up to the bottom bit To Be Fair but its fine.

00:54:02: It is part of what like you know everyone Every athlete has their Achilles heel and the in your face known as yogi.

00:54:12: Yeah, I mean it's just part of it.

00:54:16: And i think uh As years go by i'm still searching and i still genuinely believe that day i sort It out i'll be on a new level.

00:54:24: um But people around me think saw my head and mum was delusional like but i generally Still believe That.

00:54:33: but maybe these periods have rests or just what my body needs.

00:54:38: Who knows?

00:54:39: Yeah, false dress.

00:54:40: I mean we're not machines right to the point that yeah you can throw in X amount of input and get out whatever you need kind of which would make it.

00:54:47: The hardest

00:54:47: thing for me with this situation is Not knowing What the enemy Is like.

00:54:52: he's For the obstacles.

00:54:53: should i say if You Get a stressy Stress fracture um You know right little

00:54:59: Aussie

00:55:03: If you get a stress fracture That you You'll get told okay you do whatever three weeks after this and then slowly put back up.

00:55:10: but here I don't know if i'll feel better tomorrow.

00:55:13: Feel a bit in the month or... And, just don't what to do to feel better.

00:55:16: uh and that's what's the hardest thing?

00:55:19: That makes me go mental.

00:55:21: Yeah!

00:55:23: I mean..I can only imagine that weirdly- I've always said a fracture is the most grateful injury to have because you know exactly what it is.

00:55:32: take six weeks And then afterwards, it's a bone.

00:55:35: You don't even have to heal the tendons most of the time.

00:55:39: or if it's just a fracture.

00:55:43: and Then you have a day Like yesterday where you're at the finish line.

00:55:49: I saw photos Of when he just crossed the line They actually didn't match with.

00:55:55: like five or ten seconds afterwards Where you were out for the count You literally looked like Mike Tyson knocked your lying on the ground.

00:56:03: Felix, the race organizer and Catherine.

00:56:05: they were trying to get you.

00:56:08: How gratifying.

00:56:11: how good is that moment in your head?

00:56:17: You can't really describe it with words.

00:56:19: to be fair so life's worth of effort but into just have a small moment But nothing beats.

00:56:29: I would say like there's an initial feeling of relief for having done not being in that state of suffering anymore because I really, yeah any kind of big win or record is demands to create a great amount of hurt and there's initial relief for that.

00:56:48: but then most of all it's when you get to hug your loved ones.

00:56:52: they're also happy.

00:56:54: That was the biggest joy.

00:56:58: It really is cool to see and honestly i have to say You go and dedicate yourself to what you do, share very honestly your ups-and-downs.

00:57:11: And have a solid amount of beers afterwards is something I sometimes wish as an athlete.

00:57:18: that would've had more of that.

00:57:20: but i think always going at the point wanting something where there's no relaxness about it.

00:57:29: Closing question when was last time you went mental?

00:57:35: Last Time I Went Mental was early yesterday.

00:57:41: Yeah, I think genuinely the last six seven K'd.

00:57:54: yeah i put myself in a very dark place.

00:57:56: that probably would be a little mental to go there and then at the start of the day as I said backing backing my self Like a stint of really not feeling great and suddenly having to be arguably the best in the world.

00:58:18: That was again moment.

00:58:20: It's just me being a little bit mentally.

00:58:21: I

00:58:22: love it.

00:58:22: there is photo.

00:58:24: I saw this moment This morning at black-and-white photo, and I would say we've been about kilometer thirty seven.

00:58:31: i feel like Thirty five two thirty eight or maybe the darkest for you afterwards.

00:58:35: You see you seem from the outside a little more fluid.

00:58:39: Well, literally not figuratively.

00:58:41: We're an uphill figure to be and if anybody who hasn't seen it will we'll tag in the show notes because It tells such a strong story.

00:58:51: Sam thanks again for all your inspiration making triathlon cool.

00:58:53: I love it And he's good.

00:59:00: Thanks

00:59:17: legend.