2022 is not the year of Jan Frodeno. The triathlete cancels his start at the Ironman classic in Hawaii. He had already missed the 2021 World Cup, which was postponed to May.
With the infusion access on his right arm and a crutch in his left hand, exceptional triathlete Jan Frodeno sat on a blue chair in his hospital room in front of a camera. What he had to announce in the Instagram video was difficult for him.
The 40-year-old informed his fan community that he would not start at the classic in Hawaii in October. The Olympic champion and three-time Ironman World Champion also announced that he would be ending his extraordinary career at the end of next year.
Up to five operations
After a fall during cycling training a few weeks ago, his hip became inflamed after some time. Up to five surgeries are needed to fight the infection. He is being treated by the Olympic and DTU team doctor Casper Grimm. Frodeno had the first operation on Thursday. “It means the end of my dreams for 2022,” he said. A preparation for the race is no longer possible with the injury.
Frodeno is not thinking of ending his career this year. Born in Cologne, he said he was full of passion and still burned for the sport. “I still love him too much,” he said. But he doesn’t want to be the “next old man who doesn’t find the jump”. Pause, press reset and start again – that’s his plan for the last 14 months of his career.
Frodeno won the world title in Hawaii in 2015, 2016 and 2019. But he had to pass for the 2021 World Cup, which was postponed to the beginning of May and relocated to St. George in the US state of Utah. At that time, a partial tear in the Achilles tendon stopped him. When he made his comeback at Challenge Roth in early July, he had to give up at the beginning of the course.
Due to his cancellation for Hawaii 2022, the eagerly awaited duel with the new Ironman world champion and dominator Kristian Blummenfelt from Norway will not take place. But Frodeno still has 14 months to get in shape again for the showdown with his successors.