Swim Struggles Leave Sam Laidlow Facing Challenge at IRONMAN World Championship

Nice, France — Sam Laidlow, the 2023 IRONMAN World Championship winner, faced a challenging start during the swim segment of the 2025 event held in Nice on September 14. Known for his impressive performances at Challenge Roth and IRONMAN Leeds, Laidlow entered this competition as a favorite but experienced significant difficulties early in the race.

The swim took place in the Mediterranean Sea, and Laidlow initially positioned himself within the top 10. Leaders such as Jamie Riddle (RSA) and Andrea Salvisberg (SUI) set a fast pace, but midway through the 3.8-kilometer swim, Laidlow unexpectedly fell behind. Having been in contention with Antonio Benito Lopes (ESP), he soon found himself approximately 100 meters back from the action.

As the first athletes exited the water, Laidlow trailed by about two minutes, clocking a time of 47:11. This was slightly better than his previous win but placed him only 29th overall. Meanwhile, Salvisberg finished the swim with a remarkable time of 45:11, setting a new record for Nice.

Transitioning to the bike leg, Laidlow appeared visibly distressed, losing further time. He began the cycling portion nearly three minutes behind the leaders and extended this gap to over three minutes by the 10-kilometer checkpoint. Despite the setback, by the 30-kilometer mark, Laidlow managed to limit the damage, reducing the deficit to under three minutes.

As race day progressed, Laidlow’s ability to battle back from early obstacles added intrigue to the unfolding drama at this prestigious event. Fans and fellow competitors alike watched closely to see if he could overcome his swim struggles and mount a comeback during the bike and run segments.