He is the first Malaysian minister to participate in and complete an IRONMAN event
Youth and Sports Minister YB Khairy Jamaluddin participated in the 2016 TIME IRONMAN 70.3 Putrajaya, completing the race with a strong finish in 7 hours, 36 minutes and 51 seconds. He is the first Malaysian minister to take part in and complete an IRONMAN 70.3 race.
“I loved it. It was physically and mentally brutal but that’s what the IRONMAN 70.3 is about. I’ve never done a triathlon or a half marathon before in my life so I’m happy to have completed today. This is a wonderful event that brings top triathletes from all over the world to Malaysia. I hope the IRONMAN stays in Malaysia and I look forward to competing again next year”, he said.
IRONMAN 70.3 covers a total distance of 113km (70.3 miles), consisting of a 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride and 21.2km run. It requires a commitment of up to 20 hours of training a week, over a 6 month period. To have the schedule of a minister, and commit to training for one of the toughest events in the world, is extraordinary.
In his capacity as the Minister of Youth and Sports, YB KhairyJamaluddin has introduced both the FitMalaysia and Hari Sukan Negara programmes in his short tenure, with the aim of creating a Sporting Nation – a nation that asks Malaysian to go the extra mile, get their game on, and be the best they can be. Nobody embodies the IRONMAN spirit of “Anything is Possible®” more than Khairy Jamaluddin.
CAPTION: YB Khairy Jamaluddin, Youth & Sports Minister finishing the TIME IRONMAN 70.3 Putrajaya on 3 April 2016; on his left is Abdul Hafiz Salleh
