Choo clinches top prize as Fastest Overall Female, Teo Ewin is the fastest Singaporean Male at IRONMAN LANGKAWI 70.3
Singaporean Choo Ling Er is the Fastest Overall Female of 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi. PHOTO: IRONMAN®
5 November 2022, Langkawi - Singapore’s Choo Ling Er made the Republic proud by finishing the IRONMAN LANGKAWI 70.3 as the top overall female finisher with a time of 4:47:29 seconds on Saturday.
Amazingly, the 35-year-old who has completed 40 IRONMAN 70.3 and IRONMAN races since 2009, reigned supreme over the rest of the competitors only five months after giving birth.
“I’m happy with my overall timing. I’m only 80 percent back after my pregnancy. I dedicate this victory to my daughter and husband.”
“They were at the finish line waiting for me. Whatever happens to me, how painful it is, I tell myself, I made it to the finish line and I now get to spend half the day with them,” she said.
Teo Ewin, Fastest Singapore Male of 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi. PHOTO: IRONMAN®
Teo Ewin meanwhile came in as the fastest Singaporean male athlete for the IRONMAN LANGKAWI 70.3 after clocking 4:48:43 seconds.
Tan Teck Loon finished as the fastest Singaporean at IRONMAN Malaysia with a time of 11:47:33 seconds.
“I see the competitors in the older age group and they are all doing better than me, so it motivates me to do my best. I hope to keep improving,” said Teck Loon.
Overall, IRONMAN Malaysia & IRONMAN 70.3 LANGKAWI turned out to be a mega success as over 1,500 participants converged from all over the world to make this iconic multisport event one to remember. Both events saw close to 100 athletes from Singapore.
IRONMAN Malaysia & IRONMAN 70.3 LANGKAWI were making a comeback after a two-year hiatus, but it turns out the demand for IRONMAN has never waned as it also becomes one of the first few international sporting events to return to Langkawi Island post-pandemic.
Participants in the first leg of swimming at 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi. PHOTO: IRONMAN®
The diversity of participation told the story of IRONMAN’s allure, as the triathletes turned out from 50 countries.
Malaysia boasted the highest number of participation with 630 athletes, followed by Japan, Singapore, United Kingdom, Philippines, Thailand and India.
The IRONMAN Malaysia flagged off early November 5 morning, and despite the rain which showered the historical island, it did not dampen the spirit of the competitors who turned it into a highly competitive affair.
Indonesia’s Andy Wibowo was crowned the IRONMAN Malaysia overall male champion after crossing the finish line in 9:37:58 seconds, while Canada’s April Rice finished as the fastest overall female with a time of 10:19:18 seconds.
IRONMAN Asia Managing Director Jeff Edwards was elated to witness such a huge turnout for one of Asia’s most iconic event.
“We were optimistic of witnessing a huge turnout for these two events, and we were not disappointed. In fact, both races turned out to be a huge success and this is a testament of the appeal of IRONMAN especially here in Langkawi.
2022 IRONMAN Malaysia_Fastest Singaporean Finisher Male, Tan Teck Loon. PHOTO: IRONMAN®
“We are so glad to be able to bring this race to this beautiful island, and at the same time help boost the local economy too. It was such a great spectacle as not only the participants enjoyed themselves, their families and friends did too, along with the friendly locals who were anticipating this event for months,” he said.
The IRONMAN was a massive boost for the local economy as the participants and their families arrived days earlier to occupy the hotels, which created a chain spending from the F&B to the transportation sector.
The Langkawi Tourism Association had earlier said the return of IRONMAN Langkawi came at the perfect time, as life returned to normal post pandemic.
The IRONMAN Malaysia offered up to 55 qualifying slots to the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, while there are 30 slots available for IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi participants to the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Lahti, Finland.
This event is supported by its Premier & Technical partners in Asia including Active, Breitling 1884, Fulgaz, Qatar Airways, Roka, Santini, VinFast and Wahoo.