Sinclair (AUS), Choo (SGP) Fastest Overall Age-Groupers at 2023 Ironman 70.3 Desaru Coast

Amidst the beautiful backdrop of the palm tree-lined bike course and the scorching hot conditions, more than 1,000 athletes from 50 countries participated in the 2023 Desaru Coast Multisport Festival.

The three-day Multisport Festival featured a host of events for beginners to seasoned athletes who participated in various events including the IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast, 5150 Triathlon Desaru Coast, Desaru Coast Sprint Triathlon and the IRONKIDS Desaru Coast.

Harry Sinclair from Australia and Ling Er Choo from Singapore emerged as the fastest overall male and female finishers with respective finish times of 4:26:27 and 4:49:52.

The 26-year-old said this was the most challenging race he’d ever endured.  “This was a big mental game and I had to keep grinding. I am glad I got it done, this is the hardest race I have ever done. It was a tactical race, I was at the front and I had to keep pushing to get the win,” said Sinclair.

Choo Ling Er meanwhile continued to make Malaysia her happy hunting ground. The Singaporean who won last year’ IRONMAN Langkawi 70.3 came out tops now in Desaru.  “It was a good day for me. The plan was to swim steady, go hard on the bike and hold on to the run for the win. The weather was brutal, but I’m from Singapore and the last three weeks we have experienced a heatwave so it was a good acclimatization for me,” she said.

The IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast oldest female finisher was Michiyo Sekiya, 62, from Japan who finished at 07:12:13, whereas the oldest male finisher was Japan-based Michael Turoczy, 70, with a finish time of 07:54:25.

An impressive 2-day performance came from Hong Kong’s Leanne Szeto who was Saturday’s 5150 fastest female finisher, and come the main event Sunday was the second fastest female finisher after Choo.

IRONMAN Asia Managing Director Jeff Edwards said yet another successful series in Desaru only highlights the significance of this venue as a pivotal race in the IRONMAN calendar.

“The success of back-to-back IRONMAN races here in Desaru Coast shows what an important event this is not just for Asia, but globally as well. We saw a great representation from not just Malaysians, but also triathletes from all over the world and it is an indication this race will only grow bigger and more successful,” he said.