Sometimes the little things can make the difference to a great moment. An individual event in an Olympic triathlon may last just under two hours, but races can be won in just a short amount of time. The problem is that no one knows exactly when or where fleeting opportunities will present themselves.
As part of the World Triathlon’s Paths to Paris series, Songor Rehman (HUN) will be focusing on several aspects of his skillset that he has been strengthening in preparation for what could be the biggest moment of his career to date. Shared.
He has already qualified for the Hungarian Olympic team, becoming the first male triathlete from the country to be selected.
“I’m very calm because I know my position,” he said. “You don’t have to focus on the last race of the qualifying period. Instead, you can focus on the races that will help you develop on the road to the Olympics and WTCS.”
In addition to the WTCS, Lehmann plans to use the French Grand Prix as part of his preparation races. There he will be able to race against the best in the industry and hone his racing skills before the peak of the season.
But he is currently undergoing a grueling period of physical preparation as he and his team try to piece together the puzzle for success in Paris. Lehman, who had just finished his latest swim session, did not let his efforts surface.
“The intensity is increasing at the moment,” he explained. “As usual for this part of the preparation period, the volume has been high lately, but now we are increasing the intensity. The ‘brick’ sessions are also back, along with the stressful ones. ”
Earlier this year, Lehman attended a training camp in Spain with his home club. He has several training partners who are encouraging him, including 2022 World Under-23 Championship silver medalist Gergely Kiss.
Additionally, inspiration came from outside of teammates, as several celebrities were in the same region of the world.
“Like this morning, you can see Alistair Brownlee (former Olympic champion) and Beth Potter (women’s world champion) training. In this environment it’s much easier to do sessions. They are working hard and it is very motivating to see them.”
After the 2023 season, Lehman also has plenty of essential drive to overcome this tough block.
“Last year I finished in the top 10 in the entire series,” he said. “I came in 10th place. From now on, I want to improve my results even more and get into the top five.”
As a result of his impressive performance, he has earned his first Olympic berth and his excitement is palpable.
“I talked to a lot of people about the Olympics. It’s a very unique event, it’s special, there’s nothing like it. On the one hand, we’re racing with the same athletes we always have. This I think you need to get used to the atmosphere.”
For this reason, Lehman is working on preparing mentally. “I’m working on learning how to handle that kind of pressure.”
“I started working with a psychologist. I didn’t have any problems before and I was always able to do my best at WTCS level, but I think Paris will be on a whole new level.”
He already feels better, but “there’s still a lot we can do to get better.”
Lehman provides insight into the Olympic paradox in a variety of ways. He noted that he will be competing against the same athletes as the rest of the year, and while the underlying physical challenges are no different than other WTCS races, the magnitude of this moment is what sets it apart from other races. He pointed out that it is something that can be drawn.
The challenge, therefore, is to not be overwhelmed by the scale of the event. But it’s hard to accept when all the memories only emphasize how big the Olympics are.
“The important thing is that you have to get to the start line like any other race and not feel pressured. You have to have the same emotions you had before the WTCS race. That’s the plan.”
Throughout the current Olympic cycle, Lehman has made great strides in the sport. In 2021, he had a brief chance to qualify in the relay, but missed out on Tokyo. Despite this, he won the world U23 title and finished the year as a rising star. With the new Olympics just around the corner, Lehmann has developed into one of Hungary’s leading triathletes.
“Right now, being in the best position in the Hungarian team gives me a lot of confidence,” he said. “Hungarian triathlon is very strong at the moment, especially the men’s team. I think there are four people in the top 30 (of the Olympic qualification rankings). We can really pull each other and inspire each other. .”
When asked about his growth during the Olympics, Lehman couldn’t help but laugh a little.
“It was a very interesting journey. The first year after winning the U23 World Championship, I felt like a rookie and my racing was not yet at the level it is now. At that time, I was only 1 in the top 10. I was able to get in a few people, but I had to do my best to get to the top. And now, my last year has been much more consistent, and I’m also trying to get into the top group. I’m in it.”
Victories at World Cup level, including Karlovy Vary in 2022 and last year’s home tournament in Tisaváros, have proven his ability. Similarly, he is backed by the best season in WTCS history in 2023 and has his sights firmly set on winning his first WTCS medal this season.
“I think we’re on a good path and we’ve improved quite a bit, so I think we just have to focus on the little things, like what decides the race at the end.”
Songor Rehman is working on seemingly trivial matters, but he has grand images in mind for the path to WTCS in Paris and beyond.
“I’m getting closer to the first guys and I think with these little pieces of the big picture we can put it together and win a medal.”