Bangladeshi triathlete Mohammad Shamsuzzaman Arafat has successfully completed the Ironman World Championship Race in the US, securing the 61st position.
Ironman competition is the toughest triathlon race in the world, consisting of swimming, cycling and running over long distances.
The biggest Ironman competition, the Ironman World Championship, was held in Utah state of the US.
Arafat took 11 hours 32 minutes and 10 seconds to conquer the Ironman challenge.
He crossed the finish line at 6:35 PM on Saturday local time (Bangladesh Standard Time 6:35 AM on Sunday). Arafat had to swim for 3.8 km, ride a bicycle on a hilly road for 180 km and run 42.2 km.
3,597 triathletes took part in this year’s Ironman World Championship, which was organised by the Utah Sports Commission. 2,284 competitors conquered the challenge. Out of them, Arafat was placed 492nd.
Out of 2,177 male triathletes, Arafat was placed 429th and out of 194 competitors in the 30-34 age group, Arafat finished 61st.
But, this was not so easy as the 32-year-old triathlete fell on the road after being hit by another competitor’s cycle in the middle of the cycling phase and got severe injuries.
He said: "I was going at 50 km (per hour) and going down a slope on the side of a hill. After the collision I lay on the side of the road for 10 minutes or so. I had cuts and scrapes all over my arms and legs. It was hurting a lot.”
"I thought about the people who helped me every step of the way. My dream of flying the Bangladesh flag at the finish line of the biggest Ironman competition in the world gave me the strength to finish the final stage," he added.
