LANGKAWI – The IRONMAN Malaysia officially cemented its legacy as one of Asia’s most respected long-distance triathlon events, successfully celebrating its 10th edition in Langkawi. Under the relentless challenge of the island’s tropical heat, Estonian triathlete Siim-Erik Alamaa and Great Britain’s Sally Potter emerged as the fastest overall male and female finishers, respectively, in the full-distance race.
The milestone race weekend drew a massive field of 1,888 athletes from 66 nations, highlighting Langkawi’s continued global appeal as a premier endurance destination. Competitors tackled either the full IRONMAN Malaysia distance (3.8 km swim, 180 km bike, 42.2 km run) or the half-distance IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi, alongside the youth-focused IRONKIDS events.
Triumph in the Full-Distance Race
Former national cyclist Alamaa conquered the grueling 226km course with a powerful display of endurance, finishing in 9:08:39. He was followed by Germany’s Jan Seewald (9:20:17) and Australia’s Aiden Cuff (9:27:27).
“It’s unbelievable. This was only my second full IRONMAN—my first was in August—so I really didn’t expect to win,” said Alamaa. He acknowledged the extreme challenge presented by the host country: “The heat and humidity here are no joke. Having survived this, I now know what [the IRONMAN World Championship in] Kona will feel like.“
Alamaa detailed the mental battle, especially over the final stages: “I caught the leader around the 100km mark on the bike, but soon after I was alone. The last 50km were brutal, and on the run I just kept telling myself, ‘one foot in front of the other, don’t walk.’ The last 20km felt endless, but I somehow managed to hang on.” He credited his victory to the support of his wife, Lizzie, a Kona qualifier herself, calling her his “support crew, my timekeeper, and my biggest motivation.“
In the women’s field, Britain’s Sally Potter captured her first-ever IRONMAN title with a determined effort, crossing the line in 10:38:50. France’s Alexandra Vano (11:05:09) and Great Britain’s Erin Thomson (11:17:23) completed the podium.
“I’m absolutely stoked—I didn’t know how I was going to cope with the heat, but I’m glad I managed to hold on,” Potter remarked. She confessed to a critical moment late in the race: “I really suffered at around the 28km mark on the run. I had to stop and reset, and somehow managed to hang on till the finish. It’s my first IRONMAN win… so this one feels really special.“
Pro Victories in the IRONMAN 70.3
The half-distance IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi featured its own high-calibre professional race. Australia’s Josh Ferris and Switzerland’s Julie Derron claimed the fastest male and female honours, respectively.
Ferris took the Male’s Pro title in 3:46:56, ahead of Denmark’s Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen (3:50:25) and Canada’s Tyler Mislawchuk (3:55:30). He described the race as a testament to mental strength: “I rode quite hard today because that’s where I thought the gaps could open up, especially with the heat and the hills. But I paid for it later. That last section [of the run] was all about mental strength. You’re out near the airport, no shade, no crowd—just the sun beating down. It’s lonely out there.“
Meanwhile, Julie Derron, a Paris Olympic silver medalist, clocked 4:13:52 to lead the Female’s Pro category. Australia’s Natalie van Coevorden (4:18:11) and France’s Justine Guerard (4:22:17) followed. Derron described the course’s difficulty: “The swim was nice and smooth but the bike was tough. There are some really punchy hills… Then the run—it just drags on. The stretch near the airport feels endless, and with the heat it really creeps up on you.“
Local Athletes Rise to the Challenge
The milestone race saw local participants rise spectacularly to the challenge, achieving personal goals and securing national pride.
Muhd Hafiz Md Yusup was crowned the fastest local male finisher in the full IRONMAN Malaysia, clocking 10:52:01. Ho Lee Wan topped the Malaysian female category in 13:28:08.
Hafiz, a 38-year-old radiographer, was thrilled with his achievement. “It’s my sixth full IRONMAN, and I’ve managed to finish every one of them—but this is the first time I’ve emerged as the fastest Malaysian, so I’m really happy,” he said. His success was even more remarkable considering he had been battling influenza just days before the race. Despite limited preparation, Hafiz pushed through, calling this “definitely my year.” A dedicated athlete, he consistently trains around his full-time job, often starting sessions as early as 5 am.
Public figures also demonstrated notable endurance. Muar Member of Parliament, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, went the full distance in the IRONMAN Malaysia, clocking 12:22:18. This significant personal best improved his previous year’s time of 13:13:39 by over 51 minutes. His participation was part of a personal challenge to raise RM1 million for community initiatives in his constituency, a goal he successfully achieved. Former Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin also returned to complete the half-distance IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi, finishing just under the cut-off mark in 8:25:33.
The race weekend’s community spirit was further boosted by the IRONKIDS Langkawi aquathlon and fun-run events on Friday, which saw over 300 children participate, including the children of popular actress-singer Bella Astillah.
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The IRONMAN Malaysia and IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi served as qualifiers for the 2026 IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, and the 2026 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice, France, offering a combined 75 qualification slots. Ten editions on, the Langkawi event remains a true test of human endurance and a vital fixture for global and local athletes alike.
