Blummenfelt, Løvseth dominate Ironman Texas

Kristian Blummenfelt and Solveig Løvseth of Norway achieved an outstanding victory at the Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas North American Championship on Saturday. They worked so hard that they might have set a record for one of the best professional teams ever seen outside a world tournament. Norway's Kristian Blummenfelt and Solveig Løvseth won the Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas North American Championship by a large margin on Saturday. Their efforts were so good that they could have set a record in one of the strongest professional fields ever seen outside of a world championship.

In the hot and humid race at The Woodlands, Blummenfelt again won with a time of 7:21:24, which was faster than his course record and just shy of his personal world record. He got ahead in the marathon after a calm swim and bike leg, beating Marten Van Riel of Belgium and Casper Stornes of Norway to the finish line.

Blummenfelt said that the work was like fighting top competitors. He said, "First, it means a lot." "The last 5k is always tough."

Early on, the race was a tactical battle, with a close-knit swim and a steady pace on the bike, but Blummenfelt's late-run surge put him ahead of the rest of the field. His marathon split of 2:30:47 was the fastest of the day and the key to his win.

In her first race at the Texas course, Løvseth won the women's race with a calm and methodical effort, clocking 8:11:09. After the swim, she was close to the front, kept up a steady pace on the bike, and passed American Taylor Knibb on the run.

"It's always nice to win," Løvseth said, adding that being in first place in the race felt "terrifying."

Knibb came in second with an 8:14:48 time, which included a personal best marathon time of 2:54:06. Marta Sánchez from Spain took third place. When Kat Matthews got a flat tire in the middle of the race, she had to drop out, changing who would be on top.

As part of the 2026 Experience Oman Ironman Pro Series, the event lived up to its name, "The Big Show," by attracting a strong field of athletes from around the world and providing championship-level racing. Both expert races were harder because of the heat and the fact that swimmers didn't need wetsuits.

Blummenfelt won his third straight Pro Series race, which strengthened his lead at the top of the standings. Løvseth's win finished a clean sweep for Norway and gave her all three series points.

In the morning, Andrea Salvisberg of Switzerland had the fastest time in the men's swim, and Margarita Ryan of the United States had the fastest time in the women's swim.