Arild Tveiten: The secrets behind Norway's Triathlon Success

Arild Tveiten is Head Coach and Sports Director for Triathlon Norway. He has been key to Norway developing as a triathlon nation, from Kristian Blummenfelt's gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics to 70.3 World Championship successes for Gustav Iden. We pick his brains about coaching Kristian and Gustav and we find out more information about preparing for the Sub7 attempt, and why he believes Kristian Blummenfelt has a great chance.

You'll hear:

08:25 Start of the interview with Arild Tveiten

10:45 Arild Tveiten says 'We can repeat our medal again in Paris, but I'm not sure it will be Kristian Blummenfelt again.

17:05 At what point did the coaches think it would be Kristian and not Gustav winning Olympic gold? Kristian was just one step ahead. He had no sickness, no setbacks.

18:45 How do you manage competing athletes who are all vying for the same thing? We try to avoid them racing each other in training

22:45 How Arild approaches a bad race with his athletes.

26:50 We talk about the Norwegian triathlon suits. "I knew they would be controversial, but I love them. We had actually been racing in the Tokyo suit all season, but just in a different colour."

32:00 "The sub7 project really excites me. You first think, it cannot be done. But I think Kristian can do it. I like that kind of challenge, because it challenges us to dig deeper into the science. The knowledge they are getting from it will benefit the whole team as we head to Paris.

40:30 I don't think about what we have achieved, I just try to work with all of the athletes to help them be at the best level. That is my focus and when we get big results, I don't think about it. I am always looking forward, perhaps a bit too fast.

45:00 No, I wasn't expecting to be in this position as coach of Norway. I was very uncertain if I should do it and the first 3 or 4 years I was thinking 'is this sustainable' but after a few years I'm thinking ok, it's ok. But it is a lifestyle and you put a few other things to the side, like family.

48:55 Training update from Helen and Rich about the Highland Ultra

Find out more about this week's guests

Arild Tveiten Twitter

Naw'r yr awr podcast - Helen's been challenged to an interview in welsh (!) later this year on the welsh triathlon podcast.

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