Sam Long returns to IRONMAN Chattanooga with the “Dirty Dog Double” challenge

Sam long doesn't take a break. Just two weeks after finishing 14th in the World championship HOMBRE DE HIERRO in Nice, the American has confirmed that he will wear the number again this Sunday in the IRONMAN Chattanooga, where he will try to retain the title he already won in 2024.

Long himself has dubbed this challenge a "Dirty Dog Double", a fun way of referring to the difficulty of chaining two complete IRONMANs in such a short time.

Balance after the Nice World Cup

Over the past few months, Long had relocated to Europe with a 12-week plan focused on improving his swimming, fine-tuning his performance on uphill and downhill runs, and building his endurance to reach the marathon in better condition.

In Nice, despite the preliminary work, he had to settle for the fourteenth place, in a race dominated from start to finish by the Norwegians, with Casper Stornes as champion

En social media He reflected after the quote:

“Yes, I thought I could finish higher, but the current level is so high that being 14th is equivalent to being among the best in the world in any other sport.”

A special return to Chattanooga

Long has reason to be confident about this course. He won there last year in an edition marked by the cancellation of the swim following Hurricane Helene. The race became a direct duel against Cody Beals, which he ended up beating with ease.

Chattanooga also holds a special place in his list of achievements: this season he has already won there in the middle distance (IRONMAN 70.3).

Between recovery and ambition

With just two weeks of rest, the American has had to be very careful in his preparation:

“I'm listening to my body—and my wife's, too—resting more, working on parasympathetic recovery, and trying to keep the spark of training going.

“It’s a fun challenge and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the race,” he wrote on social media.

Rivals and tickets to Kona

The test will deal two slots for the 2026 Kona World Championship, which adds more pressure to the appointment.

Long's main rivals include Cody Beals, runner-up in 2024, Trevor foley y Cameron Wurf, who was also present in Nice.

Schomburg, the immediate precedent

The German Jonas Schomburg He already showed last week that he can perform at a high level shortly after a World Cup: he was third in the T100 of Spain (100 km) after Hayden Wilde y Jelle Geens.

A precedent that reinforces Long's commitment and adds further interest to what happens this Sunday in Chattanooga.

A race with many unknowns

Can Sam Long repeat his victory on such a demanding stage just 14 days after the World Cup?

The mystery will be cleared up this Sunday in Chattanooga, where the American will once again be a protagonist for his courage and ability to push the limits of recovery.