Vincent Bouillard - The untold story of this year's UTMB 100M Winner
Vincent Bouillard stunned the trail running world by achieving one of the most remarkable upsets in sports history—winning the Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), often dubbed the Olympics of trail running.
The UTMB is a prestigious event that draws the world’s top runners each year. It has been dominated by legendary figures like Kilian Jornet and Courtney Dauwalter, who are considered the greatest of all time (GOATs) in the sport. However, Bouillard, a relative unknown compared to these trail giants, made history in his very first appearance at the race.
A Breakthrough Performance
Vincent Bouillard’s victory was nothing short of extraordinary. No one had ever broken the 20-hour barrier for the 100-mile UTMB until Jornet did so in 2022. Bouillard, however, not only joined this exclusive club but also finished with a time of 19:54:23, winning by nearly 30 minutes.
Despite his stunning performance, Bouillard entered the race as a dark horse. His previous top results included wins at the 100-mile Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB and the Gorge Waterfalls 100K, both achieved last year in the United States. Yet, he was not considered a favorite—he wore bib number 139, far from the single-digit bibs of the top contenders, and his profile was so low that there wasn’t even a photo of him on the official race website.
Balancing Work and Passion
What makes Bouillard’s achievement even more impressive is that he balances his passion for running with a full-time job. He works as a senior manager in product engineering and innovation for HOKA, the headline sponsor of UTMB. After the race, he shared his journey, reflecting on the surreal experience of achieving a lifelong dream.
“I’ve been coming to UTMB almost from the beginning—as a spectator, a volunteer, with my work at HOKA, and even as crew support. I’ve seen so many aspects of this event,” Bouillard explained. “But to be on the start line was a childhood dream. Winning was beyond my wildest dreams—it was an A++++ objective! It’s been an incredible day.”
Despite his success, Bouillard remains grounded. He has no sponsorship contracts and values the freedom this provides. “I don’t know if I’ll look for a sponsorship—why not? But I also enjoy the freedom of not having any contracts or the pressure to compete in certain events or post on social media, which I don’t do at all,” he said.
Inspired by Greatness
Bouillard’s journey to victory is also marked by the company he keeps during training runs. He has been inspired by and trained alongside some of the sport’s top athletes, including last year’s UTMB winner, Jim Walmsley.
He hopes that his unexpected win will inspire others to pursue their dreams. “I’ve been inspired by great friends of mine, like Tim Tollefson and Jim Walmsley, who have performed at their best in racing and training,” Bouillard said. “If I can inspire others, it would bring things full circle. A beautiful part of this sport is the inspiration it can provide to people.”
Vincent Bouillard’s incredible achievement at UTMB 2024 serves as a reminder that with passion, dedication, and a bit of luck, anything is possible—even for those who start as underdogs.
