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2025 Male Triathlete of the Year: Nathan Kim...

Monday, 01 December 2025 00:10

By Bonnie & Clyde

2025 Male Triathlete of the Year - Clyde and I submit our picks and reasoning separately then compare notes. Sometimes we disagree, and debate ensues, as was the case with the Junior of the Year category. Sometimes we are in complete agreement, as in the case of  male and female Masters of the Year. We are in complete agreement concerning today's M-TOY picks.

Here's how we arrived at our mutual choice for 2025 Male Triathlete of the Year:

Bonnie – Spencer Syvertson dominated the instate scene, winning 6 of 7 races, most in course record times, then taking 2nd at Maple Grove behind Wisconsin's Tyler Tanko, who I believe deserves to be the 2025 US Triathlete of the Year. Spencer capped his season with a 6th place / PR at Madison 70.3. In most years his resume would earn the TOY, but not 2025. While he was setting local standards, Nathan Kim was establishing himself as a star on the national racing scene. His 2nd place finishes at St. Anthony's and Madison 70.3 were nominated for Performance of the Year. Both were the fastest times at their distance by a Minnesota man last season. His other two national appearances—Des Moines and Muskoka 70.3—resulted in a 3rd and 4th overall placements respectively. Nathan Kim, therefore, is my 2025 Male TOY pick. ...

A few words about Josh Blankenheim, the 3rd TOY nominee. He only raced three times, yielding two wins and a 2nd, with one course record. His only loss was to Syvertson. Low racing volume and losing a head-to-head battle with another nominee kept him from being a serious contender for the TOY. His scorecard was good enough, however, for him to run away with the Male Master of the Year honor.

 Clyde - Alexandria’s Spencer Syvertson is quickly becoming one of the state’s top triathletes. Ever. He swims front pack, averages up to 27 mph on sprint distance bike courses, and often also has the fastest run of the day. 2025 saw Spencer race 8 times, with 6 wins, a strong 2nd behind a pro-level athlete, and a PR 6th overall at 70.3 Wisconsin. Most years, this would be a strong enough resume to secure Spencer as the Triathlete of the Year.
 
But, another Minnesotan had a slightly stronger year. Enter Minneapolis’ Nathan Kim. Nathan approached this year a bit differently than Spencer, focusing on 70.3s and mixing in a couple early season olympic distance events. At St. Anthony’s Olympic (FL), Nathan posted the fastest legitimate olympic distance time by a Minnesota amateur in over a decade (1:53:26). He then went on to set 2 PRs at the 70.3 distance, ultimately finishing the year with a 2nd overall at 70.3 Wisconsin in 4:05:48.
 
I love how much local racing Spencer does (and I hope Kim chooses to race in Minnesota more in 2026), but you can’t argue with Nathan’s times at both olympic and half distances. So, I agree with Bonnie that Nathan Kim is your 2025 Triathlete of the Year.