It was a battle of sheer will and endurance under the tropical sun as Jed Radbone and Ling Er Choo rose above a world-class age-group athlete field to claim victory at the 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast, the marquee race of this year’s Desaru Coast Multi Sport Festival presented by IRONMAN on Sunday.

In the fourth edition of the race since its inception in 2022, athletes faced a mix of heat, humidity, and hills, with the 1.9km swim, 90km bike, and 21.1km run testing not just physical stamina but mental resolve on the stunning Desaru coastline.

But it was Radbone who scorched the course in a blistering time of four hours, 13 minutes, and one second (4:13:01), mastering the undulating bike route and surging clear in the latter stages of the run to emerge as the overall fastest male finisher. Spain’s Luis Miguel Ruiz Nanaez and Australia’s Assad Attamimi completed the top three standings, clocking 4:24:26 and 4:27:22, respectively.

It was Radbone’s first time topping an IRONMAN 70.3 race. The 25-year-old Australian, who only started taking the sport seriously four years ago, believes the event has huge potential to grow into a major fixture in the IRONMAN series calendar. “I’d love to come back next year and defend my title,” said Radbone. “I think it’s going to become a big race in the years to come.”

Radbone, who was all smiles after his win, added: “I’ve fallen in love with this place, and I’m super happy to get this result. The combination of the heat and the tough course makes it very challenging.”

Despite his dominant performance, Radbone admitted he hadn’t expected to win. “When I arrived at the hotel and saw the other triathletes — big legs, massive calves — I was a bit worried,” he joked. “But I just focused on myself and pushed really hard, especially during the swim. I was among the front guys in that leg.”

He described the running leg as “tough,” pointing to the punishing elevation and exposure to the sun, especially when running downhill. The victory is all the more remarkable given Radbone’s past. He nearly lost the ability to walk following a horrific accident in 2013, when he was just 13.

“I broke my pelvis in four places. It was a pretty severe accident,” he said. “I almost lost the ability to walk, so I’m super grateful to be out there competing in a sport that demands so much from the human body.” What began as a way to stay fit — swimming, cycling, and running — gradually turned into something much more. “I found out about triathlon and just ventured into it,” he said. As for what’s next? “I haven’t done a full IRONMAN before. I think four hours is enough for me!” he laughed. “I’ve got small legs, but we’ll see what happens next year.”

Not to be outdone, Choo produced a clinical performance in the women’s race, finishing in 4:55:25 to outpace a stacked field and take the tape at the finish chute in front of the Desaru Coast Riverside. Australia’s Sabine Claudia and Thailand’s Satowa Ota were both impressive, finishing in 5:17:18 and 5:22:47, respectively.

It was also Singapore’s Ling Er Choo’s third successive time capturing the Overall Fastest Female Finisher at the IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast. “I’m really, really happy to win a hat-trick of titles today,” said Choo. “I must thank my team, the volunteers, the IRONMAN crew, my husband, and all the participants for pushing me really hard out there.”

Choo revealed that this was her first race back after a serious injury.

“Honestly, I was just focusing on myself during the race,” she said. “It’s my first race since suffering a ligament tear in my leg, so I wasn’t sure if I could push myself hard today. But it all turned out well. I had no pain, no issues at all. Now, I’ll just focus on preparing for the World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, in October,” said Choo, also a proud mother to a three-year-old daughter.

With temperatures hovering around 28 to 29 degrees Celsius, the non-wetsuit swim from The Westin Desaru Coast Resort beachfront kicked off the morning’s mayhem. Athletes jostled for position in a clockwise lap under a rolling start, before heading into transition for the two-loop bike segment. The 90km ride was far from a flat cruise. Rolling hills through Jalan Kampung Punggol, long stretches past the Penawar and Tanjung Balau roundabouts, and the remote Sedili Kecil turnaround demanded both power and pacing. Any slip in focus risked blowing up before the second lap. Then came the run, a two-loop 21.1km course weaving past the Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal and The Els Club Desaru Coast. A few welcome shaded patches offered brief relief, but the open straights and unforgiving sun made every kilometre feel longer. Spectators packed the route, especially near the main entrance of Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, urging athletes through one of the most gruelling half-distance IRONMAN events in Southeast Asia.

While the overall titles went abroad, Malaysia’s finest didn’t go down without a fight. Muhammad Rabani Hashim surprised even himself after emerging as the fastest Malaysian male finisher, clocking 4:57:18.

“I’m surprised with the result, as the favourite was Shahrom Abdullah,” said Rabani, a former national rower who represented Malaysia at the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore. “But he had a technical issue with his bike, and that gave me a bit of an advantage.”

Despite the strong showing, Rabani admitted he wasn’t fully prepared. “I didn’t have time to train properly because of work commitments. I only managed to train when time permitted — either before or after work,” said Rabani.

His performance in Desaru was a powerful comeback after a crushing disappointment at the 2022 IRONMAN Malaysia.

“I collapsed and couldn’t finish that race,” he recalled. “That experience pushed me to train harder. Since then, I’ve managed a few podium finishes, and today, I’m back on top again,” said Rabani.

In the women’s race, Yen Chia was Malaysia’s fastest female finisher, clocking 5:33:56 after a consistent showing across all three disciplines.

The 35-year-old, who was runner-up in the category last year, placed sixth overall.

“I’m really happy with how I did, battling the heat and the tough course, and to record my personal best in this race,” said Chia. “I want to thank my teammates; we participated together, and they really motivated me throughout.”

She added that this event is part of her build-up to the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, in October. “I won’t be racing again until then. I’ve always lacked confidence, but today’s win will give me the self-belief I need to prepare for the world meet.”

With more than 1,000 triathletes from 45 countries descending upon Johor’s pristine coastline, the event once again lived up to its billing as one of Asia’s premier multisport gatherings.

A new addition to this year’s festivities was the inaugural Malaysia TriClub Championship, a celebration of local and regional TriClubs that form the backbone of the sport’s growth in the region. A total of 82 TriClubs from across the region competed for glory, in a format designed to foster camaraderie, friendly rivalry, and club pride. Points were awarded based on participation across all event categories — IRONMAN 70.3, 5150, and Sprint — with more points given for longer distances. The top five clubs were awarded trophies and prize money, with the winning team pocketing RM3,000.

CG Lim, Head of Operations (Asia) at The IRONMAN Group, said: “IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast at the Desaru Coast Multi Sport Festival has grown into one of the marquee events on our Asia calendar — and this year’s edition truly raised the bar. From the course energy to the incredible community support, everything came together to deliver a race that athletes will remember for years. We’re especially proud to have introduced the Malaysia TriClub Championship, which recognises the clubs and coaches that are driving the sport’s growth in this region. Our deepest thanks to Desaru Coast for their continued belief in the IRONMAN vision. This event reflects what IRONMAN stands for — resilience, unity, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.”

Race Director Fauzy Famir said: “We’re incredibly proud to have delivered another unforgettable edition of IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast as part of the Desaru Coast Multi Sport Festival. To all the athletes — first-timers, returning faces, and those seeking redemption — thank you for trusting us with your race journey. Your grit and spirit truly brought this course to life. Our sincere thanks go to Desaru Coast, our gracious host, for providing such a magnificent venue and strong support throughout. This year was especially meaningful as we crowned our first-ever Malaysia TriClub Champion — a milestone for our growing local triathlon community. A massive thank you to our volunteers, local agencies, and safety teams whose hard work behind the scenes made everything possible. Together, we’ve created a race to remember.”

The 2025 edition once again served as a qualifier for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Marbella, Spain, offering 45 coveted age-group slots for those fast and lucky enough to book their ticket.