Goa, 10th November 2025: The fifth edition of IRONMAN 70.3 GOA, INDIA began in spectacular fashion at sunrise on Sunday, as Dr. Pramod Sawant, Hon. Chief Minister of Goa. Shri Kedar Naik, Director of Tourism, Government of Goa. Deepak Raj, Race Director, IRONMAN 70.3 Goa, India. Saiyami Kher, Actress & Race Weekend Ambassador, IRONMAN 70.3 Goa, India. Neil D’Silva, IRONMAN 70.3 Goa Event Director and Sunil Morajkar, among others flagged off the race from the iconic Miramar Beach. Over 1300 triathletes from 31 countries plunged into the Arabian Sea, marking yet another milestone for the event, which has now welcomed athletes from 62 nations across its five editions.

Uzbekistan’s Konstantin Belousov stormed to victory in the men’s category, completing the course in 4:25:47, while the UK’s Ellie Garrett clinched the women’s title with a commanding finish in 5:18:43. The Indian Air Force contingent dominated the relay event, sweeping all three podium positions with remarkable ease.

The course challenged athletes with a 1.9 km swim, 90 km cycling leg, and a 21.1 km run, weaving through scenic coastal stretches and Goa’s heritage-lined avenues. Alongside them, hundreds of supporters gathered across the route, transforming the city into a sea of cheers, energy, and colour. The atmosphere reinforced Goa’s growing reputation as one of Asia’s most stunning and athlete-friendly IRONMAN destinations.

In a heartwarming highlight, women’s champion Ellie Garrett raced alongside her husband, Tom Garrett, who finished eighth overall with a time of 4:51:37. The couple, who have completed over 30 half-distance and 10 full-distance IRONMAN races worldwide, chose to forgo their World Championship qualification slots this year to experience the unique charm of racing in Goa. Tom, now a full-time triathlon coach, and Ellie, a physiotherapist who supports his training programs, described the event as one of their most memorable race experiences.

“That was amazing. It was the hardest 70.3 I’ve ever done, but it was just stunning. Running along and looking at the sea took some of the pain away. It reminded me of the early races that had a family feel, that’s why we got into it. And when you cross the finish line, the pain just disappears, the world stops for five seconds. It’s an incredible feeling, ” Ellie shared.

Tom added, “I didn’t have my bike today, but I managed to win my age group and finish in the top 10 overall, so I’m really happy. And I’m over the moon that Ellie won the women’s race. It’s really turned my month around. We’ve loved every part of this trip; the people, the place, the food, the weather, everything’s exceeded our expectations. We’ve wanted to race here for years, and now that we finally have, I’m sure we’ll be back. The local support was unbelievable; kids giving high-fives, people cheering all the way. It makes a huge difference when you’re pushing yourself to the limit.”

Adding to the weekend’s festivities, Olympian swimmer-turned-coach Sandeep Sejwal teamed up with his colleagues from the Inspire Institute of Sport, Rishab Chauhan and Makarand Mane, to compete in the relay category. The trio finished 140th with a time of 6:07:06. Meanwhile, Member of Lok Sabha Tejasvi Surya conquered IRONMAN 70.3 GOA, INDIA for the second consecutive year, joined by K. Annamalai, who became only the second Indian politician to earn the coveted title of IRONMAN.

The spirit of the event extended beyond the main race, as more than 900 young participants took part in the Policybazaar IRONKIDS race on Saturday, bringing energy, enthusiasm, and the promise of the next generation of triathletes to Goa’s vibrant shores.