The progression is clear as Kristian Blummenfelt gradually winds up for the defence of his Olympic triathlon title, and the Norwegian superstar left Hamburg a happy man on Sunday night.

‘Big Blu’ is ready to prove the doubters wrong yet again as he drops back down in distance to short-course racing after a 2022 spent conquering the biggest of peaks over the Ironman distance.

The 29-year-old Bergen is attempting an incredible feat – with none other than 6-time Kona king Mark Allen questioning whether he and compatriot Gustav Iden are recovered enough yet to fight for short-course wins.

Blummenfelt for sure is getting closer to that goal, and as he recently pointed out it is Paris next summer which really matters, not pure results right now.

Germany over the weekend showed Blummenfelt take another step forward – from 15th in Cagliari in May, to 5th in Montreal in June, to a highly creditable 4th in Hamburg.

Blummenfelt on WTCS Hamburg

While Kristian could not quite live with Hayden Wilde, Vasco Vilaca and Alex Yee at the business end of an epic final showdown, he was just six seconds off the pace in the final reckoning. Afterwards he emphasised his happiness with that all-important progression.

 Writing on Instagram, he said: “Always epic to be racing in front of the crowds and in the atmosphere in Hamburg. Happy with the progression in form and to get closer to where I need to be in order to fight for the win.”

Next up Blummenfelt will likely head for WTCS Sunderland the weekend after next – kicking off an incredible two-month run which could bring in eight races in six countries and three continents in just 63 days. That spell includes the PTO US and Asian Opens AND the Paris test event.

While the ‘Norwegian Method’ has gotten plenty of air time in recent months, the mentality should also not be forgotten. So far all appears well for Blummenfelt as he sets out to deliver on another massive goal in the French capital next summer.