This 50-year-old is a regular at crazy bets. In 2015, Ludovic Chorgnon, originally from Roanne, had achieved the feat of completing 41 Ironman, (tests combining running, cycling and swimming) in 41 days. And this time, he embarked on a series of 4 extreme Ironmans: the first, “Iron UP” was that of the greatest elevation gain, more than 10,000 meters, completed before COVID. And here is the second, “Iron cold”, in Rovaniemi, the city of Santa Claus in Finland.
Nearly 4km of swimming in 0 degree water
This event will be set on a frozen lake in northern Finland, at the heart of which a 25 meter long swimming pool was cut by removing a 70 cm sheet of ice to allow access to water at 0 degrees. This is the first and most dangerous step that awaits Ludovic Chorgnon: “The thickness of the suit makes it consume more energy to make movements. The cold paralyzes all around my mouth so I take more time to catch my breath“.
Workouts in a giant freezer
Cycling and running will follow at -30 degrees. Ludovic Chorgnon, who lives in the tropics in Reunion, trained in a giant 100 m2 freezer. He ran for miles there but above all repeated essential gestures: “Know how to eat, dress and undress with big mittens and know how to breathe without having a freezing nose“. An international referee is in charge of approving the record and checking that there is no assistance. However, no maximum time is imposed. You can follow the race on this Facebook page.
Once this “cold” Ironman has been completed, the next one will be “hot”. Ludovic Chorgnon will travel to the United States this summer in the valley of death for a race by 55 degrees.