Lee (right) powers through the cycling leg en route to victory in the Olympic Distance category. — Courtesy photos
The Melaka International Swim Bike Run 2024 which showcased inclusivity, drew nearly 1,000 participants from over 20 countries.
The event took place in Encore Melaka, Kota Syahbandar, and featured categories designed for children as young as six to athletes over 60.
Participants had multiple race categories to choose from including Olympic Distance (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run), Sprint (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run), Super Sprint (300m swim, 10km bike, 2km run) and relay options for teams.
There was also an aquathlon with a sprint (750m swim/5km run) and Super Sprint (300m swim/2.5km run) distances, alongside a KiTS Aquathlon (50m swim/500m run) tailored for young athletes.
In the Olympic Distance category, Lee Wen Jun won the men’s division for the third year in a row, finishing with a time of 02:14:31.
Timotius Justin took second place with a time of 02:16:19.
Lee celebrates crossing the finish line as the men’s winner of the Olympic Distance race.
Mohd Azmir Bin Abdullah Sani came in third, finishing at 02:18:02.
In the women’s division, Australian Anna Willett claimed victory with a time of 02:32:14.
Lee, a former national athlete who represented Malaysia at the 2019 SEA Games, shared his thoughts on his excellent performance.
“I’m surprised that I still managed to perform today because I wasn’t training and racing for the past six months, as I focused more on coaching.”
He explained that his participation was more about setting a positive example for his athletes.
“When you get on the podium, they look up to you and want to follow in your footsteps.
“That’s what I need to do because my job is to nurture the next generation of triathletes,” Lee shared.
The event featured the introduction of a new category specifically designed for parents of children with special needs.
Thirty parent-athletes took part in this special category, accompanied by their children diagnosed with conditions like cerebral palsy, autism, hydrocephalus and hypotonia.
Nurhazim cycling while towing his special needs daughter during the race.
These parent-child teams completed modified courses.
Some tackled a 500m run, 8km bike ride and 2km run while others managed a 1km run, 40km bike ride and 10km run.
Among them was Nurhazim Izzat, president of Persatuan Pelari Anak Luar Biasa, also known as Little Fighter Runners.
Nurhazim, a father of two children with special needs, expressed his appreciation for the event’s inclusivity.
“Our association was registered this January and has more than 40 members, mostly parents of special needs children,” he said.
“Our intention has always been to encourage and gather as many parents as possible to get involved in events like this.”
He said managing special needs children was not easy and could often be stressful.
“However, through sports events like this, we have noticed a positive change in the children’s mood,” he added.
Nurhazim also highlighted the value of such events for family bonding and build-ing relationships.
“It’s really great because both parent and child get to have fun together.
“We are here to inspire other parents like us and to show that caring for special needs children doesn’t necessarily limit your lifestyle,” he said, adding that parents could still participate in sports like cycling and running while bringing their children along.
Association members continue to challenge themselves with longer distances, having completed up to 21km in running so far.
Looking ahead, Nurhazim said that they hope to try swimming in the future if the opportunity arises, which would allow them to complete all three triathlon disciplines.
The event was jointly organised by Team M3X and 113 Series, with support from Tourism Malaysia, Melaka government and Tourism Melaka.
Race director Andy Foo commented on the significance of the inclusive initiative this year.
“Our goal has always been to create an event that goes beyond just competition.
“By embracing inclusivity, we’re not only enhancing the event’s appeal but also making a positive impact on our community,” said Foo, adding it was heartening to see how this initiative had brought joy and a sense of achievement to families who took part.
Tourism Melaka general manager Sa’ari Basiron, who was present, highlighted the importance of such races in promoting Melaka as a destination for sports tourism.
