When Sam Laidlow crossed the finish line at Challenge Roth earlier this month, the triathlon world didn’t just see a champion – they saw something that felt close to a miracle.
For months, fans followed Laidlow’s story through raw, unfiltered YouTube updates. His presence missing from race starts told its own story: something was wrong. The struggle was real and publicly shared – a draining stretch marked by unexplained fatigue, emotional lows, disrupted training, and a diagnosis of “UU” (Unexplained Underperformance).
So when Laidlow broke the tape at Roth, one of triathlon’s most iconic venues, and followed it up with another win in Leeds this past weekend, it didn’t just catch us by surprise. It gave us something deeper: quiet relief, and the kind of joy that comes when you’ve been rooting for someone to make it out the other side.
And to think he almost didn’t start.
“I was going to drop out of [Roth pre-race],” Laidlow shared in his post-race video. “I’d literally sent a message to my dad and to my manager and everyone saying that I wasn’t going to do it, and they convinced me to do it. And boy, were they right.”
Laidlow’s Return to Racing
Before Roth, Laidlow quietly entered a local age-group 70.3 in his hometown, a meaningful race for him and his family. He was the only pro on the start line, using it to find out whether his body was ready to race again.
It was enough to greenlight the start in Roth, but even then, expectations were measured.
“I wouldn’t feel comfortable getting to an [Iron-distance] start line with any less training than what I have right now,” Laidlow said before Roth. “So let’s just say that I have done the bare minimum.”
What unfolded next was nothing short of extraordinary. He exited the swim just behind Germany’s Jonas Schomburg and found himself chasing from second early in the marathon. Around the 30km mark, he made his move.
“The last 3km were really, really horrible,” Laidlow shared. “I really was just worried that I was going to completely collapse. I was even thinking during the race, ‘If I make it to the finish line first, I’m not sure I’ll be able to celebrate.’”
But as he reached Roth’s legendary finishing chute, the suffering gave way to something else.
“When you come into the stadium and see all the crowds and cheers, it definitely makes you forget the pain a bit,” he said. “The next 10 minutes after the finish line…they’re moments that stay with you forever.”
Race Director Felix Walchsoefer echoed the sentiment and captured the emotion of the moment in an Instagram post: “Sam I am so proud of you and happy for Roth to have you as our champion 2025.”
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For Laidlow, the win was bigger than himself – it felt like a way to give back to those who never stopped believing in him. “More than for myself, I was so happy for my team, my parents, my girlfriend, everyone who invested in me,” he shared. “They really got me to this start line. So yeah…this one’s for them.”
Leeds and Another Step Forward
If Roth proved Sam Laidlow could still win on one of the biggest stages, Leeds confirmed that everything he had endured after Kona – the setbacks, the rehab, the doubt – had not broken him.
From the gun, Laidlow took control. He led out of the swim, quickly broke away with a commanding lead on the bike, and never looked back. By the time he started the run, he had opened up an over five minute gap. Laidlow ran alone and unchallenged, clocking the fastest marathon of the day in 2:41:15 and crossing the finish line more than 14 minutes ahead of his nearest competitor.
It was another decisive step forward, and one that officially validated his slot for the upcoming Ironman World Championship in Nice. After months of physical and emotional limbo, fans and competitors alike now know that Sam Laidlow isn’t just back. He’s building. He’s sharpening. And he’s doing it in time for the race that matters most.
Looking Ahead: A Title to Defend
In just a few short weeks, the triathlon world will return to the French Riviera, and Sam Laidlow will return to the very course where he stunned the world in 2023. But this time, he will be lining up not as the underdog, but as the defending champ.
And while his comeback season has already been a triumph in its own right, Laidlow isn’t done yet.
More than ever, he brings with him a deep appreciation for what it means to race at this level – not just because of what he has endured, but because he now knows how quickly it can be taken away.
“I really feel like I’ve been out of the sport,” Laidlow said. “I’ve missed the whole first half of the season and hit such a low place that it really changed my vision. Now, not only do I just appreciate being healthy, but I also appreciate how cool this job is…[I want to] fully [soak] in these experiences, because I don’t know how many I’ll get.”
That perspective – hard-won, honest, and rare – will undoubtedly shape the way he races in Nice.
The athlete who last year shattered the Kona bike record and raced to win, no matter the risk, is still that same competitor at heart. The only difference now? He knows exactly what it means to lose it, and how special it is to race with nothing held back.
He titled his 2023 documentary Look Mum, I Can Fly, released after his breakthrough victory in Nice in 2023. This September, on the Promenade des Anglais, the world will find out if he’s ready to soar again.
The post Sam Laidlow’s Stunning Return appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.