#11 - Daniel Baekkegard

This week, we react to the news that the Ironman World Championships will return to Kona in 2026. We break down what this means for the future of the event and the sport as a whole. T100 Gold COast has been officially announced and we discuss what this means for the series, the athletes, and fans Down Under. We also take a moment to say thank you to the team at IM Talk, as the long-running podcast wraps up after more than 900 episodes and nearly 20 years. Hayden Wilde ran a sensational 10 kilometre race, showing the world just how good triathletes are. The next day, he suffered a terrible accident while training, and we share our support and hope for a full and speedy recovery. We touch on Venice Jesolo 70.3 before finishing with a full preview of St George 70.3. Will Magnus Ditlev take the win or will Lionel Sanders or Sam Long run him down? With a stacked field that also includes Jake Birtwhistle, Trevor Foley, Seth Rider and Marc Dubrick, there’s a lot to watch for in Utah. To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2  Or check us out on Social Media:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14

This week, we discuss Alex Yee’s stunning 2 hour 11 minute run at the London Marathon, a performance that not only turned heads but showed the world that triathletes are truly world class at swim, bike and run. It was a record breaking day at Ironman Texas with Kat Matthews taking the win in the women’s race ahead of Taylor Knibb and Kristian Blummenfelt absolutely destroying the men’s field. We share the latest update on Sam Laidlow’s health and revisit the ongoing question around whether he will be able to return to racing in 2025. Finally, we take a look at the newly released start lists for T100 San Francisco and highlight the big names confirmed for the next stop on the tour. To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2  Or check us out on Social Media:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14

This week, Belinda Granger joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation across the latest in triathlon. We start with Challenge Roth 2025 and what’s shaping up to be another massive edition of the race, before diving into some of the challenges facing pro fields across both long course and short course racing. Sam Laidlow’s health remains a big talking point, and we discuss the uncertainty around his future in the sport. We also explore why fewer women are racing Ironman and what can be done to address the imbalance, before wrapping things up with a look at the upcoming Ironman Texas and what to expect from the men’s and women’s fields. To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2  Or check us out on Social Media:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can follow Belinda at https://www.instagram.com/belindagranger  

This week, we dive into the latest update on Sam Laidlow and ask the big question. Will he race again in 2025 given his current health struggles? With so much uncertainty around his condition, we explore what this could mean for the future of one of triathlon’s biggest names. We also discuss long distance triathlon more broadly and whether it is even possible to make the format entertaining for broadcast. With ongoing challenges in viewer engagement, we ask what needs to change to bring the sport to a wider audience. Beth Potter’s recent 10 kilometre run performance is on the agenda as well, along with a look at the Ironman Texas start lists. The women’s race is led by Kat Matthews, while the men’s field features Kristian Blummenfelt, Gustav Iden and Patrick Lange. To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2  Or check us out on Social Media:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14

This week, James is joined by professional triathlete Andrew Horsfall-Turner to break down all the latest in the triathlon world. T100 Singapore takes centre stage as we discuss Kate Waugh’s breakthrough win, Hayden Wilde’s dominant performance, and how both races played out across the heat and humidity of Singapore. Andy talks through his experience at Ironman South Africa, sharing what it was like from inside the race and how his day unfolded. There’s also discussion around the recent T100 Tour date change and what it means for athletes, plus the big announcement of a combined WTCS and T100 event and how it could shape the future of the sport. To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2  Or check us out on Social Media:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can follow Andy at https://www.instagram.com/andrew_h_t 

Triathlon is back with some big weekends of racing, and we’re here to break it all down. We start with Ironman South Africa, where Anne Reischmann took the win in the women’s race, and Magnus Ditlev dominated the men’s field, with Marten Van Riel and Jamie Riddle also in the mix. Next, we preview the upcoming T100 Singapore races. The women’s field features top contenders like Lucy Charles-Barclay, Ashleigh Gentle and Taylor Spivey, while the men’s race includes strong competitors such as Jelle Geens, Hayden Wilde, Vincent Luis and Tyler Mislawchuk. We discuss what to expect from these athletes and how the races might unfold. To round out the episode, we look ahead to Oceanside 70.3, which boasts a stacked start list including Kristian Blummenfelt, Lionel Sanders, Joe Skipper and Gustav Iden in what promises to be an epic showdown. To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2  Or check us out on Social Media:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14  

This week, we’re joined by Joe Skipper to discuss his race at Ironman New Zealand. Joe shares his insights into how the day unfolded, from the swim through to that brutal final stretch on the run, and what the result means for the rest of his season.   We then break down the action from Geelong 70.3, where Jelle Geens stormed to victory with a lightning-fast run, Jake Birtwhistle delivered a solid performance, and Natalie Van Coevorden claimed a huge win in the women’s race.   To wrap things up, we preview Ironman South Africa, looking at the big names on the start list—Magnus Ditlev, Marten Van Riel, and Ruth Astle—and how we think the race will play out. To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2  Or check us out on Social Media:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 Follow Joe - https://www.instagram.com/notanotheraveragejoe  Check out Joe's new podcast: https://youtu.be/iOf5Ef43EPY?si=9GC5HHQgEJMhwJ44 

This week, we discuss the T100 Singapore wildcards, including the exciting addition of Tyler Mislawchuk, the best hot weather athlete in the sport, and whether Max Stapley’s bite is as bad as his bark after earning his spot.   We then break down the Geelong 70.3 start list, featuring big names like Matt Hauser, Jelle Geens, and Hannah Berry, and what to expect from this highly competitive field.   Next, we look at Ironman South Africa, where Magnus Ditlev, Marten Van Riel, and Ruth Astle headline the start list. Can Magnus drop Marten on the bike, or will we see Marten take the win on the run?   Finally, we check in on Ellie Salthouse, discussing her recent surgery, when we can expect to see her back on the T100 circuit, and her thoughts on the 2025 season. To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2  Or check us out on Social Media:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can follow Ellie at https://www.instagram.com/elliesalthouse 

This week, we discuss the recent news that Imogen Simmonds tested positive for Ligandrol, a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) known to enhance muscle mass and strength.  Simmonds has denied intentional use, attributing the positive test to intimate contact with her partner, who was unknowingly taking Ligandrol to improve his physique.  We explore the details of this case, its implications for her career, and the broader impact on the sport. We then sit down with Mike Phillips, the new Ironman New Zealand champion and course record holder, to hear how his race unfolded and what this result means for the rest of his season. Finally, we recap all the action from Ironman New Zealand, breaking down the key performances, race dynamics, and standout moments from Taupō. To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2  Or check us out on Social Media:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can follow Mike at https://www.instagram.com/mikephillipsnz 

This week, we discuss the Norwegians training in Nice—what they’re up to and what we can expect from them at the Ironman World Championships. We then preview Ironman New Zealand, looking at the key contenders, including Joe Skipper, Mike Phillips, and Arnaud Guilloux. Who are the favourites, and how will the race play out in Taupō? Finally, James interviews professional triathlete Daniel Bækkegård about the current state of the sport, his plans for 2025, and the recent news about Imogen Simmonds testing positive for PEDs. To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2  Or check us out on Social Media:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can follow Daniel at https://www.instagram.com/danielbaekkegard