The fifth edition of the Desaru Coast Multisport Festival concluded on Sunday after another memorable weekend of world-class endurance racing, welcoming more than 1,000 athletes from 60 countries to the award-winning integrated destination resort.
Held from July 24-26, the three-day festival once again transformed Desaru Coast into a vibrant celebration of endurance sport, featuring the flagship IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast triathlon, 5150 Triathlon, Sprint Triathlon and IRONKIDS races, while reinforcing the destination’s growing reputation as one of Southeast Asia’s premier hubs for sports tourism and active lifestyle experiences.
The centrepiece IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast triathlon saw athletes take on a revised 1km swim, followed by a 90km bike and 21.1km run through the scenic coastal destination after organisers shortened the swim course due to strong currents and incoming weather conditions in the interest of athlete safety. The bike and run courses remained unchanged as participants enjoyed cooler, overcast conditions, while racing for podium finishes and coveted qualifying slots to the 2027 Precision Fuel & Hydration IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.
In the men’s race, Kyrgyzstan’s Evgeny Tikhonin stormed to victory in 3:49:35 after executing a well-controlled race to finish ahead of Australia’s defending champion Jed Radbone (3:57:28) and compatriot Ilya Kosov (4:03:48). The triumph was Tikhonin’s third IRONMAN 70.3 victory and second of the season after his success at IRONMAN 70.3 South Africa.
“The swim was nice. There was a little bit of waves, but I felt okay. The bike was really nice, although it got a little bit too hot in the second part. The run course was epic. It was really tough, too warm and it felt like there was no air,” said Tikhonin.
“I knew the gap I had after the swim and bike, so I could control my pace on the run and not push too hard. Today was not about making my fastest time because every race has different conditions. I didn’t come here to make a personal best. The main thing was my finishing position, and I think I raced at about 90 per cent.”
“It’s my first time in Malaysia. I like this country and I like this climate. I prefer hot conditions to cold conditions, so it’s nice to train in this climate.”
“My main race is the World Championship in Nice in September, so this race was good preparation to feel the conditions and be ready for that race.” In the women’s race, Mariia Kurchenko of Kyrgyzstan emerged as the overall champion after crossing the finish line in 4:20:26, finishing ahead of Singapore’s Ling Er Choo (4:26:36) and Hong Kong’s Lisa Cheng (5:08:10) to cap an impressive winning debut at Desaru Coast.
The 29-year-old swimming coach said the victory provided another confidence boost ahead of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice this September.
“I’m very, very happy. This is my first competition in Malaysia and I really like it. The swim was a little short, which was not so good for me because swimming is my strongest discipline. My helmet visor and glasses were wet during the bike, but I’m very happy to finish and win,” said Kurchenko.
Kurchenko also revealed she travelled to Desaru Coast on the recommendation of her coach, fellow Kyrgyz athlete Kosov, who completed a memorable day by finishing third in the men’s race.
Sunday also marked Kosov’s birthday, making the victory an even more meaningful one for the Kyrgyz camp.
“My coach told me we should come to Malaysia. Today is his birthday, so I’m happy I could give him this victory as a birthday present.”
The elite competition once again underlined the growing stature of the Desaru Coast Multisport Festival, with athletes from around the world delivering outstanding performances while many also secured coveted qualification slots to the 2027 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, adding further significance to their achievements in Desaru Coast.
Malaysia also had plenty to celebrate as Teh Kuok Yuen and Yen Chia emerged as the nation’s top finishers in the IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast, leading the Malaysian challenge against a quality international field.
Teh clocked 4:17:45 to finish fifth overall and emerge as the fastest Malaysian male, with the 40- year-old experienced triathlete battling leg cramps for much of the run to secure another strong finish on home soil.
“Today’s race was tough. Swimming was tough. The bike was tough. Running was tough. Everything was tough,” said Teh.
“When I finished the bike, my legs started cramping. I wasn’t sure if the cramps would go away after the first couple of kilometres of the run, but they eased after about three or four kilometres before coming back again towards the end. Overall, it was a good race, but a tough day. The weather was okay, but the waves made the swim really challenging.”
Reflecting on his longevity in the sport, Teh credited consistency and discipline for helping him remain among Malaysia’s leading triathletes for more than two decades.
“I think it shows my training is still okay. I haven’t gotten too slow yet, so that’s good. I also need to give the younger guys some competition.”
“Train hard, be disciplined and stay consistent. That’s all I can say.”
In the women’s category, Yen Chia completed the course in 5:09:55 to finish as Malaysia’s fastest female athlete for the second consecutive year.
Making her fourth appearance at IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast, the experienced triathlete was delighted to improve her finishing time despite describing the swim as the toughest she has encountered in her triathlon career.
“Today’s weather was really, really good. Except for the swim, which was a bit tough. It was the toughest swim in my triathlon life, but the bike and the run were really good,” said Chia.
“This is my fourth time racing in Desaru Coast and I think today’s weather was the best I’ve experienced. Every year my timing has improved, so I’m happy with that. The course is still tough, but that’s what makes it a good challenge. I like it.”
Malaysia’s impressive showing was further highlighted by Shahrom Abdullah, who finished eighth overall in 4:22:56, while Isaac Tan placed 10th overall in 4:23:38 to complete a remarkable three- man Malaysian presence in the overall top 10. Ann Pow also delivered a commendable performance after finishing 10th overall in the women’s race with a time of 5:25:03.
Their performances highlighted the continued progress of Malaysian triathlon, with local athletes once again proving capable of matching themselves against a competitive international field while inspiring more Malaysians to embrace endurance sports.
Beyond the racing action, the Desaru Coast Multisport Festival delivered a vibrant carnival atmosphere throughout the three-day celebration, offering athletes, families and visitors an exciting programme of activities beyond the race course.
Complementing the flagship IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast, 5150 Triathlon, Sprint Triathlon and IRONKIDS races was a vibrant line-up of fringe activities, including Paintball, Kite Flying, Air Badminton, Pound and Zumba fitness sessions, an Artisanal Market, Drum Circle and Teqball. The festival also highlighted Desaru Coast’s newly built pickleball courts, reflecting the destination’s continued investment in world-class sports and recreation facilities.
The diverse programme reflected the organisers’ vision of creating more than just a race weekend, transforming the event into a celebration of sport, wellness and community while further showcasing Desaru Coast as one of Malaysia’s premier destinations for international sporting events and active lifestyle experiences.
For many participants, the weekend was equally about creating lasting memories, with athletes celebrating personal milestones ranging from completing their first triathlon and achieving personal bests to earning coveted qualifying slots for the 2027 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, while families and supporters shared in the festive atmosphere throughout the three-day celebration.
The festival also featured the 5150 Triathlon, where Philipp Kloeber of Germany and Martina Klein of Hungary emerged victorious after completing the Olympic-distance event comprising a 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run.
Meanwhile, the Sprint Triathlon once again proved popular among newcomers, providing an accessible introduction to multisport racing under the renowned IRONMAN banner while continuing to attract aspiring triathletes looking to take their first step into the sport.
The festival atmosphere also extended to the youngest participants through IRONKIDS, where young athletes enthusiastically took part in age-appropriate races, creating memorable family moments while encouraging the next generation to embrace healthy and active lifestyles.
The milestone fifth edition also received strong support from key government agencies and strategic partners, with the official flag-off ceremony graced by Penawar state assemblywoman YB Puan Fauziah Misri, Johor Tourism director Mohammad Nazrul Abd Rahim, Kota Tinggi District Officer Tuan Haji Miswan Yunus, Pengerang Municipal Council president Norazmi Amir Hamzah, Desaru Coast Chief Executive Officer Izrin Hashim, Destination Resorts and Hotels Group Chief Executive Officer Darhim Dali Hashim, Destination Resorts and Hotels Group Chief Corporate Officer Karina Ridzuan, reflecting the strong collaboration between the public and private sectors in supporting Johor’s ambitions as a leading destination for sports tourism and international events.
IRONMAN Asia Senior Director of Operations CG Lim hailed another successful edition of the Desaru Coast Multisport Festival, saying the event continued to strengthen Desaru Coast’s reputation as one of the region’s premier endurance sports destinations while bringing together athletes from around the world.
“This year’s race was another successful one and we’re pleased to see athletes from so many countries enjoying everything Desaru Coast has to offer. The festival has continued to grow over the past five years and we’re grateful for the support from Tourism Johor, the Johor state government, local authorities and Desaru Coast in helping us deliver another memorable event.”
“Looking ahead, we want to continue building on this momentum together with all our partners to attract even more participants and further establish the Desaru Coast Multisport Festival as one of the leading endurance events in the region.”
Izrin Hashim, Chief Executive Officer of Desaru Coast, said: “It gives us great joy to welcome back so many returning athletes while also seeing first-time participants choose Desaru Coast for their race experience. Their continued support is a testament to the destination’s growing appeal as a world-class venue for endurance sports.
“As we look ahead, our ambition is to continue growing the Desaru Coast Multisport Festival by expanding its offerings and creating even more compelling experiences for athletes, their families and supporters. With our commitment to hosting the festival through 2029, we remain focused on strengthening Johor’s sports tourism landscape while showcasing Desaru Coast as a premier destination for large-scale international sporting events.”
With another successful edition now complete, the Desaru Coast Multisport Festival has further cemented its reputation as one of Southeast Asia’s premier endurance sporting festivals, bringing together elite athletes, age-group competitors, first-time participants and families in a celebration of resilience, determination and community while continuing to position Desaru Coast as a world- class destination for international sporting events and active lifestyle tourism.
