Pune: Completing the famed Ironman Triathlon that involves a series of sporting events including a swim, bicycle ride and a marathon all performed in a sequence without a break is a dream for many but Pune-based, Kaustubh Radkar has achieved the milestone for 25 times. 

Radkar, who is country’s poster boy for Ironman has become the first Indian male athlete to complete the challenge for 25th time by participating in the triathlon held on March 7, 2020 at Lake Taupo, New Zealand.

The Ironman Triathlon is widely considered as one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world with a strict time limit of 17 hours to complete the race. It is a series of long-distance triathlon races, organized by the World Triathlon Corporation that consists of a 3.86-km swim, 180.25-km bicycle ride and a 42.2-km marathon run. About 40 countries have held Ironman championship.

A Doctor of Health Administration and Rehabilitation Science, 37-year-old, Dr. Radkar, who’s India’s First Ironman Certified Coach completed his 25th challenge in 13 hours 13 minutes.

Radkar being a CEO and Founder of RadStrong, a company that offers coaching for triathlon, running and sport specific fitness has coached more than 50 full Ironman finishers around the world but mostly in Pune, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Having pursued MA in Cardiovascular Physiology 2004-05, he also heads RadRx, a company that specializes in rehabilitation for people with Heart Disease and Cancer.

Dr. Radkar is the only Indian to finish KONA Ironman World Championship in 2017 in Hawaii and is also the only Asian and 4th person in the world to have finished an Ironman on all six continents including Asia, Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa between March 2014 and November 2016.