10 Chapters About Sam Laidlow
Sam Laidlow’s whole life has been about being the best triathlete in the world. He is a relatively new face in the sport, but one that has quickly made a name for himself by becoming Ironman World Champion at age 24.
A Brief Introduction To Sam Laidlow
Before we dive into the details, let’s start with a quick overview of who Sam Laidlow is:
| Full Name | Sam Laidlow |
| Nickname | |
| Date of Birth | December 23, 1998 |
| Nationality | French |
| Height (How tall is Sam Laidlow?) | 189 cm (6’2″) |
| Weight | 75 kg (165 lbs) |
| Discipline | Triathlon (Long-Distance) |
| Coach | Richard Laidlow |
| Team(s) | |
| First Triathlon | 2003 – yes, at 4 years old. |
| Turned Pro | 2017 |
| Achievements | Ironman World Champion |
Early Life and Athletic Beginnings
Sam Laidlow was born in England but moved to Southern France when he was young. His parents run a triathlon training business, Sancture Sportifs, which exposed the sport to Sam from an early age.
Between the ages of 13 and 17, Sam lived, studied, and trained at the National Altitude Training Centre (the “universe of high performance”). His goal was to become the best triathlete and train to become a world champion.
Returning Home
Returning home at age 17, Sam raced in sprint and Olympic distance races, winning some but wanting to move up to the Ironman distance.
At age 19, Sam entered and won the Bearman Xtri, an extreme Ironman distance race. Laidlow’s first time at the distance included a great swim, a dominating bike through the Pyrenees, and a solid run to cross the finish line first. He showed that he had great legs and world champion grit even at such a young age.
Ironman Distance Breakthrough
At the age of 20, Sam entered The Lakesman, an Ironman distance race held in Keswick, UK. His winning time of 8:21 was the fastest time ever by an athlete in the UK.
He turned professional and entered Ironman Barcelona, finishing 7th in 8:05:40.
In 2020, he won a half Ironman distance race, the Triathlon de la Montagne Noire.
In 2021, Sam raced in the Spanish Long Distance Championship, an Ironman distance race, which he won. He followed that up a week later with a solid 2nd place in the Championnat de France de triathlon, a half-ironman distance race.
In 2022, Sam finished 8th in the Ironman World Championships held in St. George, Utah which were held in May due to Covid. In October, he shocked the world with an impressive performance of second place in the Ironman World Championship held in Kona, Hawaii. His time had arrived.
In 2023, at age 24, Sam really showed his talent with wins at Challenge Gran Canaria 70.3, Challenge London 70.3, and his first Ironman World Championship title in Nice (his home soil).
World Championship Titles
One of Laidlow’s most significant achievements is his World Championship title.
| Year | Medal | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1st | Ironman World Championship (Nice, France) |
Notable Results
Below is a list of many of Sam Laidlow’s most notable results.
| Year | Medal | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2nd | Ironman UK |
| 2022 | 4th | PTO Canadian Open |
| 2022 | 4th | PTO US Open |
| 2022 | 2nd | Ironman World Championship |
| 2023 | 1st | Challenge Gran Canaria 70.3 |
| 2023 | 1st | Challenge London 70.3 |
| 2023 | 1st | Ironman World Championship (Nice, France) |
Records and Achievements
2016 – Fastest time ever recorded in a UK Ironman distance race – 8:21.
2022 – 2nd place in his first Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.
2022 – Set a new bike course record at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.
2023 – First French Ironman World Champion.
2023 – Youngest ever Ironman World Champion at age 24.
Personal Life
Sam is trained by his father, who owns a triathlon training center in France.
Sam likes to race from the front, often dominating on the bike.
Sam has a full back tattoo of a ship along with the words, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor”
When interviewed immediately following his win, he replied, “I can’t believe it. It’s the stuff I’ve dreamt of like my whole life.” Also, “I’m just a kid doing this.”
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