Heart problems keep Sam Bennett on the sidelines: “I can only do what my body allows”

It has been a strange and frustrating period for Bennett. Training didn’t feel right, and toward the end of last year he just couldn’t put together the kind of performances he expected. “At the end of the year I didn’t feel great, and I didn’t understand what was happening,” he told the Irish Independent. “I started training but had weird sensations for the first three days.”

Then, one night in bed he experienced noticeable heart palpitations and discomfort in his chest. His heart rate spiked without explanation. It was only after checking his Whoop fitness band’s heart-rate monitoring — which indicated irregular rhythms — that he sought medical help. “Honestly, I didn’t want to bother anyone,” Bennett said. “I waited until I knew the doctors would be awake, and then I called.”

Doctors confirmed the irregular rhythms were due to a cardiac issue, forcing him to postpone his season. Bennett admitted that he’d had strange feelings in previous years, with a significant drop in circulation — a possible explanation for some unexplained fatigue during sprints. “When I sprinted, I had to sit back down quickly,” he said, and now sees those past sensations in a new context.

Bennett is understandably disappointed. “I wanted to start this season at a high level, and it felt like I was letting the team down,” he said. But he stressed that everyone around him — especially at Pinarello-Q36.5 — has been extremely supportive, and there’s no pressure to hurry back. “My health comes first. We’re taking it step by step and seeing how the body reacts.”

The sprinter also explained why he chose to go public with his situation: it’s better to be transparent than leave fans wondering where he is and why he isn’t racing. “People will ask: ‘Where’s Sam Bennett? Why isn’t he racing? What’s going on?’,” he said. “Maybe I can also give some insight and help someone else with their health.”

As of now, there’s nothing concrete on Bennett’s calendar. He’s given himself until the end of March to try to be ready without rushing his recovery, but emphasised that he’ll only take part in racing when his body is truly prepared. Pinarello-Q36.5 has confirmed that he has already resumed training.