Latest news with #Ironman70.3
Daily Tribune
2 hours ago
- General
- Daily Tribune
Stronger Than Steel
The Night Bahrain Witnessed the Power of She 'My prosthetic arm was not my identity. I wanted to live without hiding — and that's when everything changed.' - Shaikha Al Shaiba 'I didn't just climb Everest. I carried the hopes of every person who's been told they can't.' - Dr. Arunima Sinha It's not every day you sit in an auditorium and feel your heartbeat sync with stories of sheer resilience. But that's exactly what happened at the Leela Jashanmal Memorial Lecture in Manama, an evening that turned into a masterclass on bravery, grace under fire, and what it truly means to rise, again and again. The Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) auditorium was packed to capacity, buzzing with anticipation. I found myself surrounded by people from all walks of life, leaning forward, holding their breath, much like I did, as two incredible women took the stage and rewrote the definition of strength. The event, hosted by the Indian Ladies Association, was a tribute to courage in the face of adversity. But no introduction could have prepared us for the impact that Shaikha Al Shaiba and Padma Shri Dr. Arunima Sinha would have on our hearts. Bahrain Trailblazer Shaikha Al Shaiba's story didn't begin in a sports arena. It began in silence. In the shadows of judgment, stares, and whispers. With one arm, she knew early on that society would define her by her difference. What they didn't expect was that she would choose her own definition. 'My prosthetic arm was not my identity,' she told the crowd. 'I wanted to live without hiding — and that's when everything changed.'Her voice wavered only with passion as she recalled how she joined races, learned to swim from scratch, and pushed herself to compete in one of the world's toughest triathlons, Ironman 70.3. With just two months of training and no prior swimming experience, Shaikha completed a 1.9 km swim, 90 km bike ride, and 21.1 km run, not to prove a point to the world, but to honor the strength within her. She trained in Bahrain's heat, battled through injury, and swam against waves colder than fear itself. She didn't just cross finish lines, she tore down barriers along the her biggest challenge came with loss. 'When my father passed away, my world went silent,' she said. 'I stopped living for a while. But then I remembered, I have a life to honor, and a legacy to build.' That's when she got back on the bike. Even after a near-fatal accident in Riyadh that broke her hand, head, and hip, she didn't stop. She showed up to work in a cast and later crossed another finish line in Paris. Why? Because resilience, as she said, 'is not about pretending the struggle doesn't exist, it's about rising anyway.' From Train Tracks to the Top of the World Then came a hush, the kind that settles right before a storm of emotion. Dr. Arunima Sinha, India's first female amputee to scale Mt. Everest, stepped forward. But before she became a mountaineer, she was a national-level volleyball player, and a victim of unthinkable violence. She was thrown off a moving train by robbers in 2011. Left on the tracks, limbs crushed, consciousness flickering and the cruel rhythm of 49 trains passing by. It was seven hours before help no anesthesia, she underwent an emergency leg amputation. But even as she lay in a hospital bed, riddled with rods and screws, she made a declaration no one could have predicted: 'I will climb Everest.' Arunima's journey wasn't just vertical, it was spiritual. She trained for 18 months, faced repeated rejections from sponsors, and endured brutal climbs with one prosthetic leg and a spine held together by determination. 'People only saw what I didn't have,' she said. 'They didn't see the fire inside.' In 2013, she reached the summit of Everest, not just for herself, but for everyone who's ever been told they couldn't. She now leads a foundation that supports amputees and underprivileged children in India, proving that healing isn't just personal, it's communal. That evening, under the soft lights of BIBF's auditorium, something magical happened. The crowd didn't just listen, they transformed. Tears were wiped quietly. Hands clapped louder. Hearts were realigned. The stories of Shaikha Al Shaiba and Dr. Arunima Sinha were not about tragedy. They were about triumph. About what happens when a woman decides that her narrative won't be written by were not just speeches. They were battle cries. They were love letters to the human spirit. They reminded us that our scars are not symbols of shame, they are stamps of survival. And as I walked out that evening into the cool Manama air, I realized something, I had forgotten to breathe. But I left with lungs full of courage, a heart full of awe, and a soul that had just witnessed greatness. Honoring Academic Excellence A special Academic Felicitation Ceremony recognized top-performing students from New India School, Asian School, New Millennium School, New Horizons, and The Indian School. Principals proudly joined their achievers on stage as their names were displayed, celebrating excellence and dedication in front of a distinguished audience. Shaikha won the Riyadh Duathlon (5krun, 20kbike, 2.5krun) Shaikh at the Dubai Fitness Challenge Snaps from Ironman 70.3 hel in Bahrain Dr. Arunima Sinha speaks at the Leela Jashanmal Memorial Lecture The world's first female amputee to climb Mount Everest in 2013 and the first female amputee to climb Mount Vinson, the highest peak of Antarctica. India's PM Modi congratulates 'pride of India' Arunima Sinha Opening address from ILA President Smitha Jensen
ITV News
a day ago
- Health
- ITV News
Jersey triathlete Ollie Turner back in action after rare blood disorder diagnosis
Jersey international triathlete Ollie Turner says he could have died had he not sought treatment for a rare illness. Now based in Cardiff, Ollie, 26, was found to have immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), meaning he had a very low number of platelets in his blood. He was encouraged to go to a doctor's appointment by his girlfriend, Georgia, after developing bruises and feeling fatigued following a training camp earlier this year. A blood test showed Ollie had around 13,000 platelets, significantly lower than the average of up to 450,000. Platelets are cell segments which help blood clot and stop bleeding at the site of a cut - without them, a person would bleed uncontrollably. Ollie told ITV News he is grateful that Georgia, who is a nurse, booked his GP appointment and potentially saved his life. He said: "I wouldn't have bothered because I wouldn't have deemed myself needing it. I didn't want to take the resources because I didn't feel like it was warranted but then, what do I know about medicine? "If I'd fallen off my bike, I'd have probably not even been here because they wouldn't have operated on me because I wouldn't have had enough platelets. "They'd have just refused me the surgery, so thank you to her." Now back in training following treatment, Ollie is turning his attention to Ironman distance triathlons after the short-course event was dropped from next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Ollie finished 26th in the short course triathlon at his first Commonwealth Games on Australia's Gold Coast in 2018 before jumping to 15th when Birmingham played host in 2022. Speaking about the switch in focus, Ollie said it was really "deflating and demotivating" when he found out the event was out of the 2026 Games. He explained: "I had this grand plan that I wanted to go to the 2026 Commonwealth Games, finish my short-course career and I was aiming for a top ten. I was wanting to tick off each one so yeah, it meant a lot to me." Moving onto new challenges, Ollie recently raced in Shanghai, finishing 4th at the Ironman 70.3 race on 25 May.
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Kate Waugh refusing to get ahead of herself in T100
The next leg of the Olympian's journey will see Waugh take to San Francisco at the iconic Escape from Alcatraz route on Saturday. But while she travels to Northern California leading the chasing pack, Waugh is taking each race as it comes. "Being top of the standings after my first T100 race after my longest race ever is a really cool position to be in," said Waugh. "This weekend in San Francisco will bring about a very different race dynamic but I've put in some good work over the last few weeks so hopefully I can try again. "I'm still very much learning about T100 racing so I'm excited for it. "Deep down, I want to win every race. I'm a very competitive person and I wouldn't enter these races if I didn't think I could be competitive. I'd be lying if I said It wasn't in it to win it but I also don't like to put the outcome at the forefront of my process. "I'm focused on having the best race possible across the board." The T100 Triathlon World Tour routinely attracts the best triathletes within the sport and Waugh is relishing the opportunity to test her mettle against such a high calibre of opposition. That list includes American Taylor Knibb, the three-time Women's Ironman 70.3 World Champion, two-time Olympic silver medallist and reigning T100 Triathlon World Tour women's champion, who will be out to earn glory on home soil this weekend. Waugh added: "You can never underestimate Taylor Knibb. She's an incredible athlete. I've raced her for a long time and you can't underestimate how strong she is. "She's going to do what she does best and make it as a hard race as possible from the start. "She's the champion for a reason, an incredible athlete and I have the utmost respect for her. "I'd love to battle against her but I'm still learning over this distance so I'm not putting huge expectations on this. "I just want to focus on my own race goals and the process of the race. That seemed to work in Singapore and hopefully I can do the same again." Watch the world's top 20 female and top 20 male triathletes race live in the San Francisco T100 over the legendary Escape From Alcatraz course on Saturday 31 May. The broadcast starts at 0545 local time, 1345 in the UK, with the races starting 15 minutes later. You can tune in live for free globally on PTO+ or watch on partners channels such as TNT Sports 2 in the UK, Max or Discovery+ in Europe, or beIN in North America. For more details visit
The Star
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Shio Yuan's Desaru win a boost for her world c'ships' preparation
KOTA TINGGI: Chia Shio Yuan's (pic) feat of becoming the fastest Malaysian female athlete at the Ironman 70.3 Desaru Coast on Sunday has given her a timely boost as she gears up for her biggest challenge of the year, the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, on Oct 11. The result could not have come at a better time for the 34-year-old, as she now has just five months left to prepare for the gruelling race in Hawaii, a course twice the distance of the one she just completed in Johor.
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First Post
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Saiyami Kher all set to make her debut in Malayalam cinema with Roshan Mathew
A source close to the project shared, 'Saiyami has been keen on doing a Malayalam film for a while. She's always been drawn to cinema that prioritises strong storytelling.' read more Saiyami Kher is all set to make her much-awaited debut in Malayalam films. The actress will be seen sharing screen space with talented Malayalam actor Roshan Mathew in a yet-to-be-titled project. Saiyami, who has previously worked with superstar Nagarjuna in Telugu films, will now explore the world of Malayalam cinema — a space that has recently caught the attention of several Bollywood actors for its rich storytelling and strong performances. In today's cinematic landscape where multilingual films and cross-industry collaborations are becoming the norm, this move marks a new and exciting chapter in Saiyami's journey. The film will see her playing a parallel lead role, promising a compelling narrative and a fresh pairing. The shooting of the film has already commenced in Mumbai. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A source close to the project shared, 'Saiyami has been keen on doing a Malayalam film for a while. She's always been drawn to cinema that prioritises strong storytelling, and this script immediately stood out to her. Pairing with Roshan Mathew in a performance-driven role felt like the perfect next step.' Saiyami Kher, who impressed audiences with her portrayal in films like Ghoomer, Sharmaji Ki Beti, Choked and others, created history by becoming the first Indian actress to complete the prestigious Ironman 70.3 triathlon in Germany. The race consists of a 1.9 km swim, 90 km of cycling, and a 21.1 km run to be completed back-to-back without breaks. Talking about the journey, she shared, 'Crossing the finish line of the Ironman 70.3 and getting that medal has to be one of the proudest moments of my life. This has been on my bucket list forever, and I am just so happy I finally did it! Training for an Ironman while juggling 12 to 14-hour shooting was tough. There were days when motivation was nowhere to be found, and it really felt like a battle with myself.'
