Norwegian triathlete Solveig Lovseth is preparing in Hawaii for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, where she will attempt to defend her women's title after winning last year.
The 27-year-old enters the race with recent victories and a strong position in the sport's overall standings.
According to The Athletic, Lovseth won last year's race in 8 hours 28 minutes 27 seconds after overtaking rivals late in the marathon.
She also won Ironman Texas and Hamburg before finishing fourth at the shorter-form championship in Nice, France.
The Norwegian said her approach to competition relies heavily on positive internal dialogue rather than harsh self-criticism.
She told The Athletic from her training camp in the French Pyrenees that encouragement comes naturally during difficult moments.
"It comes naturally to me, luckily," Lovseth said.
Lovseth explained that she uses supportive thoughts during races, including reminders of good decisions and progress.
She said this mindset helps her manage the long physical and mental demands of Ironman events.
"I am my own cheerleader. I think it really makes a difference," Lovseth said.
The full-distance race remains her preferred challenge because it matches her controlled pacing style.
The course includes a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 42.2km run through the demanding conditions of Kailua-Kona.
"I like the intensity level of the full distance," Lovseth said.
Lovseth said the race requires constant decisions about effort, especially when heat and fatigue increase during the marathon.
Temperatures in Kona are expected to exceed 30C during the event, according to the report.
"It’s hard to turn off the head," Lovseth said.
Before becoming a leading Ironman athlete, Lovseth was a high-school swimmer who was encouraged by her coach to try triathlon.
She said the sport initially felt unfamiliar in Norway.
"I was very unsure in the beginning," Lovseth said.
According to The Athletic, participation in Ironman and Ironman 70.3 events reached 200,000 registrations in 2024, with women representing 18 percent of race fields worldwide.
Lovseth said she hopes her career encourages more young women to enter the sport.
"I think it’s really cool," Lovseth said.
