Jamshedpur’s Afzal Ahmed completes full Ironman triathlon in Portugal

Second from Jharkhand to achieve the milestone

Manpreet Bhatia

Jamshedpur, Dec 4: Afzal Ahmed, an alumnus of Loyola School (Batch of 2014) and IIT Kharagpur (2018), has successfully completed the Full Ironman Triathlon (Ironman 140.6). He achieved this feat at Ironman Cascais, Portugal, one of the world’s toughest endurance challenges. Afzal finished the race in 16 hours and 9 minutes, becoming the second person from Jharkhand to complete a full Ironman.

The Ironman triathlon is no ordinary race. It demands competitors swim 3.8 km in open water, cycle 180 km through hills and headwinds, and finish with a full 42.2 km marathon — all within 17 gruelling hours. Less than 0.01% of the world’s population has ever completed this feat. Afzal Ahmed is now one of them.

Afzal’s achievement comes at a time when the sport of triathlon is steadily gaining popularity in the country. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi encouraged people to participate in triathlons, praising the efforts of athletes in Ironman 70.3 Goa, a half-Ironman event. His remarks have inspired many first-time participants to take up endurance racing, either at the half-distance event in India or the full Ironman overseas.

Afzal credits his mother, Razia Ahmed, for introducing him to swimming at the age of five. He developed his early skills by competing in swimming events at local clubs in Jamshedpur and representing Loyola School in inter-school tournaments. These experiences helped build the foundation for his long-distance endurance capabilities.

Alongside this achievement, Afzal also manages a demanding professional career. He works as a trader at an investment bank in London and balances his training with a full-time job, dedicating early mornings, late evenings, and long weekend sessions to prepare for the Ironman challenge.

Afzal’s success has brought recognition to Jharkhand in global endurance sports and stands as a strong inspiration for young athletes across the state.

Earlier in the year Apurva Anand also a Loyola alumnus crossed the finish line at Ironman Cairns in Australia, he registered his name in the annals of history. He became the first person from Jharkhand to complete a full Ironman.