Malaysian Dad Goes Viral For Completing 225KM Triathlon In 15 Hours At 61 Years Old
Tajudin Mustaffa told SAYS that he has been competing in endurance sports events since 1983.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 15 Oct 2024, 02:25 PM
A 61-year-old Malaysian father has gone viral on TikTok after his son posted a video documenting his journey of competing in the IRONMAN triathlon held in Langkawi, Kedah
In a one-minute video posted yesterday, 14 October, Hakiem Tajudin showcases his athletic dad, who boasts a chiselled six-pack, conquering over 200km of swimming, cycling, and running.
"If there's one thing that I learnt from you, it's to never give up on achieving your dreams. Age is indeed just a number," wrote Hakiem in the caption.
Tajudin Mustaffa, nicknamed TriHulk, began the race with a 3.9km swim at Pantai Kok, before moving on to a 180km route cycling around the island.
The 61-year-old completed the race with a gruelling 42km run that began in the day and ended at night.
The video shows Hakiem running alongside his dad during the final 3km. The sexagenarian finished the race in 15 hours and 54 minutes.
Speaking to SAYS, Tajudin said he was a banker who retired last year
Addressing online comments claiming that his dad was a soldier, Hakiem clarified that his father was a bank employee who takes good care of his health.
Tajudin said he has been active in endurance sports events since 1983, having participated in marathons, Spartan races, swimathons, and triathlons.
He started competing in triathlons in 2007 after learning to swim in 1996, and by then, he was proficient in open water swimming.
He has excelled to the point where he has participated in 13 swimathons, swimming 6.5km from Pulau Kapas to Marang over the years.
"I also love to participate in marathons in Thailand, as the organisers are great. I also enjoy a type of weight training called hybrid training.
"My typical exercise involves weight lifting and cardio, such as cycling, running, or swimming," he said when contacted.
At the time of writing, the video of Tajudin completing the triathlon has garnered over 1.1 million views on TikTok
Many netizens were inspired by his achievement, while some likened him to Yoshihiro Akiyama, a 49-year-old Japanese mixed martial artist with a muscular body who is also known by his Korean name Choo Sung-hoon.
