Bangladeshi triathlete Mishu Biswas has set a new national record in the full-distance IRONMAN, completing IRONMAN Maryland on September 19 in Maryland, US.
Competing against more than 1,500 athletes, including around 50 professionals from around the world, Biswas was the lone representative from Bangladesh. He finished 12th in his age group and 101st overall.
The previous benchmark had been set only hours earlier by Mohammad Samsuzzaman Arafat, who completed IRONMAN Italy in 10:04:35 on the same day. Approximately six hours later, Biswas crossed the finish line at IRONMAN Maryland in 9:47:46, lowering the mark by 16 minutes and 49 seconds.
Biswas is one of Bangladesh’s leading endurance athletes and the country’s only certified IRONMAN coach.
Speaking after the race, Biswas described the conditions faced by athletes.
“Athletes faced challenging conditions in the Choptank River, where choppy water and the current made the opening swim particularly demanding. On the 180-kilometre bike course, competitors were exposed to the wind across the largely flat and open terrain.
“The bike leg was also interrupted following a serious accident that required an emergency response and helicopter operations. A large number of cyclists, including me, were temporarily stopped on the course. The affected time was later adjusted by race officials.
“And the run brought another challenge, with warm and humid conditions testing athletes over the marathon distance.”
An IRONMAN is an endurance event consisting of a 3.8-kilometre swim, 180-kilometre bike ride and 42.2-kilometre marathon, completed consecutively.
For Bangladesh, where long-distance triathlon remains a relatively young and developing sport, Biswas’ achievement marks another milestone on the international stage.
