I need to find out what’s wrong with my body, why I can’t perform at my best like I know I can. I’m hopeful we can get to the bottom of this and get back to racing soon.”
For now, Laidlow’s focus is on his health and finding a solution to his ongoing health issues, with the hope of returning to competition stronger than ever.
Watch Sam Laidlow’s full update on his health status here:
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Laidlow on Kona collapse
Laidlow insisted he was in the best shape of his life heading into that IRONMAN World Championship defence in October, and blames a fuelling mishap for his blow-up.
“I haven’t spoke about it publicly, but I believe, and still believe, I was extremely fit heading into Hawaii but for whatever reason the body gave in. I had a severe electrolyte imbalance when I finished the race. We presume I took too much sodium on in one go after I missed the first aid station on the bike.
“So my stomach started swelling and swelling and swelling, and I’ve always had this weakness of the hydration part, something in my body is not quite as sturdy as other peoples – it explains why my body has shut down in some races.
“It’s not a sugar bonk like other athletes have, it’s that one of my organs just gives in – in Hawaii I pushed my kidneys too far because since then I’ve been suffering with an electrolyte imbalance in my body.”
No puedo predecir hacia dónde irá esta temporada porque puede llevar uno, dos, tres, cuatro meses encontrar cuál es el problema y curarlo, y espero que dar este paso atrás nos permita avanzar en el futuro.
“En este momento, hay días en los que simplemente siento ganas de rendirme y hacer algo completamente diferente.”