In On’s latest short film, ‘Tri-Kings’, elite triathletes Gustav Iden and Kristian Blummenfelt take on an animated form and turn into Viking warriors of old to battle gods, giants, and monsters.
In a new experience for the two Norwegian athletes, 2022 IRONMAN World Champion Gustav Iden and Olympic Champion Kristian Blummenfelt enter a fantasy world of swim, bike and run in On’s newest film.
Iden and Blummenfelt are transformed into Norsemen and become the Viking warriors ‘Kristian the Unstoppable’ and ‘Gustav the Great’. In the film, the triathletes-turned-Vikings enter a fantasy realm that includes formidable opponents and obstacles.
‘With Norse gods watching on, sea serpents and sirens try to lure Gustav and Kristian off the course, mysterious charioteers give chase, a living forest stands in their way, and a perilous run amid the clouds has the Tri-Kings pushing themselves to unknown limits in pursuit of victory.’
Creative Director Simon Brotherson and animator Yibi Hu co-wrote the film. The 2D animation process was combined with 3D motion capture technology. Old Norse mythology and animation aesthetic were merged with triathlon, resulting in a fresh take and artistic choices that aim to appeal to young audiences.
“With Tri-Kings, we continue our tradition of distinction with a world-class animation and live-action storytelling cross-over”, said On Sports Marketing Lead Gessica Giulini.
“We drew on all the epic drama of Norse mythology to create something that breaks free from the conventions of sports content, making triathlon an engaging topic for a broader audience.”
Creative Director Simon Brotherson said “There was so much content out there about Kristian and Gustav, but most of it was scientific content – about their so-called ‘Norwegian Method’ of training.
“So we said: ‘Let’s have some fun.’ Gustav and Kristian have been referred to as Vikings before – and they’re kind of fierce. So why not fully embrace that theme?”
Animator Yibi Hu added “Simon and I had a long chat about how Gustav and Kristian race, their personalities, and their swimming, cycling, and running styles. We wanted to reflect a true triathlon, how athletes experience a race.
“During races, the audience has a completely different experience than the athletes. From the outside, it feels calm. But for the athletes, it can be pure chaos. And when you’re racing in truly spectacular surroundings, the mountains and trees around you seem to come alive – either helping you or trying to hold you back.”
Gustav Iden said “I had high expectations before I saw the film. I’ve done a lot of different film projects in the past, but nothing comes close to this.
“Norse mythology has grown quite a lot [in popularity] over the last decade because of various Hollywood movies, but I was a fan long before that. I am proud of my Norwegian and Viking heritage. Still, I don’t feel like a warrior most of the time. I was happy to have Kristian by my side.”
Kristian Blummenfelt added “It’s us against the world. [The film] summarizes quite well what it feels like in real life – with some exaggerations, of course. How we have to fight these obstacles on the way.
“The important thing is how you’re able to deal with those and move on. It feels special to be portrayed as a Viking warrior. To be out there in the wild, no matter the conditions. That strength and rawness of Vikings is well represented.”
Kristian Blummenfelt is a professional Norwegian triathlete, Olympic and World Champion, competing at short course, half-Ironman and IRONMAN distances. He won the gold in the men’s triathlon at the 2020 Olympics and won the 2021 IRONMAN World Championships. In 2022, he became the first person to complete an iron-distance triathlon in under seven hours during the Pho3nix Sub-7 Sub-8 event.
Gustav Iden is a professional Norwegian triathlete and training partner of Kristian Blummenfelt. He also competes at short course, half-Ironman and IRONMAN distances and is the 2022 IRONMAN World champion. In addition, he won the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship twice in 2019 and 2021.
