Record-breaking participation at Desaru Coast Multisport Festival

The 2024 Desaru Coast Multisport Festival (DCMF) has once again proven to be a beacon of athletic excellence and community spirit, drawing over 1,250 participants from 49 countries to its vibrant coastal venue. Now in its third edition, the festival reached new heights by successfully hosting the IRONMAN 70.3 Asia TriClub Championship over the weekend.

Spanning three action-packed days, the festival welcomed back its four staple events: IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast, 5150 Triathlon Desaru Coast, Desaru Coast Sprint Triathlon, and IRONKIDS Desaru Coast. The IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast, the marquee event of the festival, gained even greater prestige this year as it was designated the 2024 Asia TriClub Championship, part of the Global TriClub Championship Series.

TriClub Champions Crowned in Desaru Coast

In a fiercely competitive race, RC Coaching emerged as the Malaysian champions with the fastest overall time, while Team7 Endurance from China triumphed as the overall IRONMAN 70.3 Asia TriClub champions, outpacing more than 75 clubs. The TriClub Awards, which combine the efforts of the top five athletes from each club, featured a prize pool of USD $3,000, adding to the high stakes of the event.

Cao Junyu of China celebrated a personal milestone, clinching the title of overall fastest male finisher with a time of 4:30:31. “I’m very happy, it was a dream come true for me to top the overall standings for the first time,” said Cao. “This achievement helped me surpass my previous best, a second overall in the Philippines last November.”

Singapore’s Choo Ling Er continued her dominance by securing the title of overall fastest female finisher for the second consecutive year, clocking in at 4:52:13. Reflecting on her journey, Choo said, “I’m very happy to defend the title. I’ve been struggling with my health for the last six months. I had a cycling accident during Christmas, which took me five months to recover. This is the best race I’ve ever done, feeling healthy, happy, physically, and emotionally.”

Malaysian Athletes Shine

Malaysian pride was evident with Serena Yang and Shahrom Abdullah, who were the fastest Malaysian female and male finishers, respectively. Yang, returning to competition after the birth of her third child, expressed surprise and delight at her performance. “I’m really surprised with my performance today. I thought I would be much slower, but I did quite well,” she said.

Participants in the 5150 Triathlon and Sprint Triathlon also showcased remarkable talent. Chris Wheeler of Great Britain and Joana Moreira of Portugal topped the 5150 Triathlon standings, while Singapore’s Cedric Chua Jian Hong and Australia’s Michaella Concetta Alexandra Widjaya led the Sprint Triathlon.

Ironkids Inspire with Display of Emerging Talent

The festival’s inclusive nature shone through with the IRONKIDS event, where over 100 young athletes demonstrated their potential in a safe and supportive environment.

IRONMAN Asia Regional Director CG Lim praised the festival’s success, stating, “For the past two years, the DCMF has attracted athletes from around the globe to immerse themselves in the vibrant culture and unique experiences offered by Desaru Coast and Johor. The event was impeccably organized and garnered positive feedback from all participants.”

Khairul Ariffin Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of Desaru Coast, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the festival’s role in boosting sports tourism and community engagement. “Beyond offering a scenic triathlon course, one of the major attractions of our Desaru Coast Multisport Festival is its inclusivity, catering to competitors of all levels across multiple races throughout the weekend.”

With the successful conclusion of the 2024 Desaru Coast Multisport Festival, athletes, families, and spectators alike look forward to next year’s edition, which promises to deliver even more excitement and camaraderie in the world of triathlon.

2024 Desaru Coast Multisport Festival Official Results:

IRONMAN 70.3 Asia TriClub Desaru Coast Championship Winners (International):

1. Team7 Endurance – 26:57:20
2. Elevate Performance Coaching – 27:47:48
3. Imaniacz – 29:13:38

IRONMAN 70.3 Asia TriClub Desaru Coast Championship Winners (Malaysia):

1. RC Coaching – 26:36:00
2. SA BIKE – 28:37:54
3. FIXCOACHING – 38:09:40

IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast – Overall Fastest Male Finishers:

1. Cao Junyu (CHN) – 04:30:31
2. Assad Attamimi (AUS) – 04:35:53
3. Gleb Khorash (THA) – 04:39:05

IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast – Overall Fastest Female Finishers:

1. Choo Ling Er (SGP) – 04:52:13
2. Krisztina Vaczi (HUN) – 05:04:13
3. Victoria Hill (GBR) – 05:18:20

IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast – Fastest Malaysian:

1. Shahrom Abdullah (Male) – 04:54:49
2. Serena Yang (Female) – 05:31:00

5150 Triathlon Desaru Coast – Overall Fastest Finishers:

1. Chris Wheeler (Male, GBR) – 2:32:43
2. Joana Moreira (Female, PRT) – 2:44:26

Desaru Coast Sprint Triathlon – Overall Fastest Finishers:

1. Cedric Chua Jian Hong (Male, SGP) – 1:06:02
2. Michaella Concetta Alexandra Widjaya (Female, AUS) – 1:21:56