Kristian Grue and Julia Skala Conquer the Legendary Norseman

The Norseman is more than just a race – it’s a rite of passage for the world’s toughest triathletes. Simply finishing it is a badge of honor. But today, Kristian Grue and Julia Skala did far more than survive this iconic challenge; they dominated it.

Each year, over 5,000 athletes enter the lottery to race Norseman, yet only 250 are granted a coveted entry slot. That exclusivity speaks volumes about the race’s allure – but says little about its sheer brutality. The event follows the Full Distance but adds a uniquely savage twist. Athletes begin by jumping off a ferry into an ice-cold Norwegian fjord in the pre-dawn dark, swimming 3.8 kilometers back to shore. Then comes a bike course with relentless elevation, and a marathon that finishes with a near-mythical climb up Mount Gaustatoppen – a 1,880-meter peak that tests both endurance and willpower.

From the start, Kristian Grue took control of the men’s race. The Norwegian delivered a masterclass in pacing and resilience, finishing in an astonishing 9:45:20. Grue was 25 minutes faster than last year’s winner, Sebastian Norberg (10:10:19), and an incredible 44 minutes ahead of this year’s runner-up, Christophe Martignier of Switzerland (10:29:22). Finland’s Juuso Manninen rounded out the podium with a 10:34:59 finish.

The women’s race was equally impressive – and fast. While comparisons across years are tricky given Norseman’s extreme variability, Julia Skala left no doubt about her supremacy. The German athlete crushed the course in 11:00:23, over 30 minutes faster than Laura Zimmermann’s winning time from 2024 (11:32:56). Skala’s performance wasn’t just dominant among the women – it was elite by any measure. She crossed the finish as the sixth overall athlete, bested by only five men on the day.

The Swiss Laura Kessler finished second in 11:52:29, and the Briton Flora Colledge finished third in 12:10:21.