Singapore triathlete Ben Khoo smashes his own national Ironman record in Hamburg
SINGAPORE – Battling the choppy waves and cold wind, Singapore triathlete Ben Khoo struggled at the start of the Ironman race in Hamburg, Germany, on June 1.
But the 34-year-old pushed through the swim leg in the Alster Lake, made up ground on the bicycle before completing the marathon to clock 8 hours 49 minutes 46 seconds. In the process, he smashed his own Singapore record of 9:02:24, set at the Ironman Copenhagen race in August 2023.
The Ironman race comprises a 3.8km swim, 180km bicycle ride and 42km run.
Khoo, a business executive in the chemicals sector, said: 'There was a thunderstorm, so the race was delayed, and we were afraid that that might affect the conditions.
'I didn't have a very good swim and the swim was longer than expected – 4km instead of 3.8km – but I was quite happy to make time on the bike.
'So I went much, much faster than I expected. And then I got off the bike, I was like, 'okay, more or less there already', I just need to finish a marathon conservatively, and I will be able to break the record with quite a comfortable buffer.'
Triathlon Association of Singapore president Paul Rachmadi said Khoo 'delivered a monumental race'.
He added: 'Smashing his previous best of 9:02:24, Ben continues to redefine the limits of endurance, discipline and dedication.
'An extraordinary achievement and a powerful inspiration to the next generation of triathletes in Singapore.'
In April, Khoo had also competed in the Singapore leg of the T100 triathlon series at Marina Bay, where he finished as the quickest Singaporean in the open category.
The T100 is a shorter event, with participants completing a 2km swim, 80km bike race and 18km run.
Khoo said: 'The intensity of racing is higher (for the T100) and in Singapore, the course is also much more difficult, because it's hot and it's hilly, so it requires a lot more fitness and skill, whereas the Ironman is more of a test of endurance.
'They always say that the Ironman only begins at the last 10km of the marathon, which is not true. It's a nine-hour race… But the last 40 to 50 minutes are incredibly hard. With 14 km to go, my body shut down. So I couldn't run fast, couldn't take in nutrition, which was difficult.
'It was not a race against the rest of the field but a race against the clock. So I'm always checking the clock, looking at the total time.'
Khoo was introduced to multi-sport racing at Raffles Institution, where he participated in adventure racing – running and cycling – as part of his Boys' Brigade co-curricular activity.
After secondary school, he dabbled in triathlon and first represented Singapore in the Under-23 category of the Asian Triathlon Championships in Taiwan in 2011.
Khoo, who holds a master of science in management science and engineering from Stanford University, said he chose the Ironman Hamburg race as it is known to be a fast course, adding: 'The age group world record was set there last year, and this year the pro women world record was also set there.'
Having lowered his own national record in Germany, Khoo is eyeing something else closer to home. He is hoping to be part of the national duathlon team for the Dec 9-20 SEA Games in Thailand.
'The Iron Man is a nine-hour race, whereas the SEA Games format for me would be 20 minutes,' he said.
'It's a real transformation of systems and I have to change from a long and slow athlete to high octane and pretty much a sprint. It will take some time to transform the body, so that will be my focus for the next six months.'
Melvyn Teoh is a sports journalist at The Straits Times.
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
17 hours ago
- Straits Times
Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan makes the cut at Women's British Open
Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan has made the cut at the Women's British Open, her second Major of the 2025 season. SINGAPORE – Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan made the cut at the Women's British Open on Aug 1, after shooting an even-par 72 in the second round to finish at one-over 145, a stroke below the +2 cut line. The 21-year-old now sits tied-35th, 12 shots behind leader Miyu Yamashita (65) from Japan after two rounds at the US$9.75 million (S$12.6 million) tournament. After opening with a one-over 73 that placed her tied-74th with 16 others, Tan climbed the leaderboard on Aug 1 as she mixed five birdies with five bogeys at the Royal Porthcawl in Wales. Just three weeks earlier, the world No. 100 also played through to the weekend at the Evian Championship, her first Major of the 2025 season. There, she came in joint-59th with a two-over 286 total, with Australia's Grace Kim winning the event through a play-off against Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul after both players finished regulation at 14-under 270. She said: 'Making the cut in both of my Major appearances this year means a lot to me. As I mentioned before, making the cut at the Evian Championship was already a step forward, so getting through at both events is actually one of the goals I set for myself this year. 'It shows that the hard work I've been putting in is moving me in the right direction. Playing the weekend at the Women's Open, especially in these tricky conditions, alongside the best in women's golf, gives me a lot of confidence and motivation to keep pushing forward.' Tan had also made the cut at the Women's Open in 2024, becoming only the second Singaporean – and the first woman – to reach the weekend at a Major after Lam Chih Bing in 2008. Tan has recorded some impressive performances in 2025, including picking up her second title on the Ladies European Tour (LET) when she won the German Masters in June. In addition to her win, she has also had four top-10 finishes.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
Amateur football leagues win over cynical Chinese fans
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Fans pose for pictures while arriving to watch the amateur league football match between Suzhou and Yangzhou at the Kunshan Olympic Sport Center in Kunshan. SUZHOU – On a summer's day in the city of Suzhou, about 40,000 people crowded into a stadium while thousands more gathered by public screens to watch China's hottest sport – amateur football. A balm for cynical fans drained by years of corruption and ineptitude in the professional game, the amateur leagues springing up around China have drawn millions of viewers online, boosted domestic tourism to lesser-known locales and sparked good-natured rivalry between cities. At the sold-out match in searing heat in Suzhou, near Shanghai, the home crowd jumped out of their seats and cheered when 17-year-old Kou Cheng scored against Yangzhou city in the second minute. Many wore bright red jerseys and T-shirts emblazoned with the characters for 'Suzhou' and used paper fans to cool themselves. 'Compared to other competitions, the fans here are more passionate, and even if they don't understand football, the atmosphere is lively,' said Qian Chunyan, a 35-year-old Suzhou resident. The tournament first took off in the eastern province of Jiangsu – where Suzhou is located – earlier this year. The live-streamed matches soon drew millions of spectators on social media, putting smaller provincial cities on the domestic tourism map. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Trump says US will set 15% tariff on South Korean imports under new deal Business US Fed holds rates steady despite Trump's pressure, with two governors dissenting Singapore Driver in 2024 Tampines crash that killed 2 set to plead guilty in October Multimedia 60 years, 60 items: A National Day game challenge Singapore $10 million Toto results to be announced on July 31, after no winners in last 3 draws Sport Ainslee Kwang, 14, becomes first Singaporean diver to qualify for World Aquatics C'ships semi-finals Multimedia Firefly-inspired light show at Gardens By The Bay's Supertree Grove Singapore Escape, discover, connect: Where new memories are made That, in turn, has created a local consumption boom, giving cities that host matches a much-needed reprieve from years of sluggish spending. The games, initially sponsored by local businesses such as barbecue restaurants, have now attracted backing from big-name companies like e-commerce platforms Alibaba and Fans of local amateur leagues told AFP they were drawn to matches by the simplicity of football not weighed down by the vast sums of money the professional game involves. 'With widespread public participation and minimal corporate involvement, it's a more pure form of football,' said Wang Xiangshuo, a Suzhou football fan. 'Winning or losing doesn't matter, purity is most important.' Professional football clubs in China, even in its top Super League, have been plagued by match-fixing and gambling scandals. The national team's abysmal performances at international tournaments often draw scorn and abuse from social media users. President Xi Jinping has said he wants China to win the World Cup one day. But the men's team are ranked 94th in the world by FIFA this year and they have only qualified once for the World Cup, in 2002, when they lost all three of their games without scoring a goal. Players in provincial leagues range from high school students to civil servants, including village Communist Party secretary Dai Hu, whose on-field appearances saw him featured by state news agency Xinhua. Local amateur tournaments are 'a great model for community football, allowing every citizen to have their own home team', Jin Shan, a football expert at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told AFP. 'It brings football closer to the general public.' Local tourism has seen a boost from the league's popularity too. Since it began in May, the Jiangsu amateur tournament – affectionately dubbed the 'Su Super League' – has accounted for a growth in tourism spending in six cities across the province of more than 14 per cent, according to state-run broadcaster CGTN. Chen Tianshu, a souvenirs manufacturer in Nantong city, said her colleagues rushed to make enamel badges with team logos and ice cream popsicles in the shape of local symbols after seeing branded tote bags sell out in a neighbouring city. 'The ice cream sold very well, with the first batch of a thousand pieces already almost sold out,' said Chen. 'Our performance in the Su Super League is giving Nantong a rare moment to shine.' Other provinces eager for their share of the amateur football boom are following in Jiangsu's footsteps, with southern Jiangxi province hosting a two-stage tournament this month. Social media trends in China often lead to unexpected locations receiving sudden surges of visitors. Travellers flocked to the industrial town of Zibo in northern China in 2023, after videos featuring its regional barbecue style went viral. 'This year's success (of the Jiangsu league) is an unexpected delight,' Chen added. 'I hope this will be a long-lasting tradition.' AFP
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
Ainslee Kwang, 14, becomes first Singaporean diver to qualify for World Aquatics C'ships semi-final
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Ainslee Kwang competing in the preliminaries of the women's 10m platform at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on July 30. SINGAPORE – It is her World Aquatics Championships (WCH) debut and 14-year-old Ainslee Kwang made sure it will be a one to remember by becoming the first Singaporean diver to qualify for the WCH semi-finals. In the preliminary round of the women's 10m platform on the morning of July 30, the Secondary 2 student from Methodist Girls' School finished 13th out of 37 with a personal best 285.00 points after five dives. Her previous PB was 284.75. Only the top 18 divers go through to the semi-finals on July 31 at the OCBC Aquatic Centre. China's Chen Yuxi was the top qualifier with 396.50 points, ahead of compatriot Xie Peiling (337.50) and North Korea's Jo Jin Mi (323.50). On her qualification, Ainslee said: 'Honestly, I was aiming for it, but I was never really confident about if I was going to (make it) or not. 'It hasn't struck me yet that I actually did so well, but at the same time, I'm nervous about whether I can keep up this standard. 'I'll try my best, but we'll see, because diving is really (unpredictable). You really don't know what's going to happen next. ' Her coach Charlie Tu called her semi-final qualification 'an incredible moment for all of us', adding: 'Ainslee's achievement is a testament to her hard work and the support from everyone around her. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Water supply issues during Toa Payoh blaze affected firefighting operations; SCDF investigating Singapore 3 taken to hospital after fire in Marsiling flat Singapore School, parents on alert after vape peddlers approach primary school pupil Singapore Tampines, Toa Payoh BTO flats most popular among first-time home buyers in July HDB launch Sport Leon Marchand sets first world record at World Aquatics C'ships in Singapore Singapore Jail, fine for man linked to case involving 3 bank accounts that received over $680m in total Singapore Provision shop owner who raped 11-year-old gets more than 14 years' jail Singapore Escape, discover, connect: Where new memories are made 'As her coach, I feel really proud and inspired because it shows that with dedication and the right guidance, our athletes can compete on the world stage. This milestone is not just hers, but a big win for the Singapore diving community.' Ainslee, who started swimming at six years old and took up diving a year later, hopes to maintain her consistency in the semi-finals, where only the top 12 will qualify for the evening's final. 'Competing at the world championships has been an incredible experience, and for the semi-finals, my goal is to stay consistent and execute each dive to the best of my ability ,' she added. 'Being on home ground helped settle my nerves, with the support of my family, friends, teammates and coaches making a big difference. 'My next goal is the SEA Games in December, where I hope to build on what I've learnt here and continue improving .' Matteo Santoro (left) and Chiara Pellacani of Italy in action during the World Aquatics Championships Mixed 3m Synchronised Diving finals held at the OCBC Aquatic Centre on July 30. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG In the mixed 3m synchronised final in the evening, Italian duo Chiara Pellacani and Matteo Santoro came from behind to clinch the gold after a mistake in the fourth dive by China's Li Yajie and Cheng Zilong. The crowd roared straight after the Italians' fifth and final dive as their 308.13 total meant that they finished first, ahead of Australia's Maddison Keeney and Cassiel Rousseau (307.26) and the Chinese pair, who took the bronze with 305.70 points. This is the Italian pair's first gold after finishing second in 2022, third in 2023 and second again in 2024. Pellacani, who jumped onto Santoro and was screaming after their final dive, said: 'It feels incredible. We worked hard for this. We were trying to keep it calm during all the dives and we're very happy that we made it. 'I can't believe (it), we just started screaming (after the dive), because it was crazy just to see on the board that we were first... So it's just emotions that it's hard to describe.' There was confusion over the signal to start their fourth dive, which resulted in the Chinese pair dropping to second and eventually third after the final dive. Li said: 'We had some issues... When we were preparing to jump, we had already stepped out, and then the whistle was blown. 'There might have been a problem, maybe he (Cheng) didn't hear it, but I was the one calling the rhythm, and I did hear it. That might have had some impact and we were worried that if we jumped, they might not give us a score and might even give us zero.' Li added: 'I do have some regrets, but I don't think this will affect me too much. There will still be other competitions in the future. ' Singapore's Max Lee and Ashlee Tan (233.91) finished 12th out of 19. There was no preliminary round for this event, with all pairs proceeding straight to the final.
