Kyrgyzstan athletes win gold at Malaysia's IRONMAN 70.3

Athletes from Kyrgyzstan achieved remarkable success at the IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast triathlon held in Malaysia on July 27, 2026, capturing top awards in both elite categories.

Evgeny Tikhonin delivered a dominant performance in the elite men's competition, crossing the finish line in 3 hours, 49 minutes, and 36 seconds. He surpassed the reigning champion from Australia, Jed Radbourn, who finished with a time of 3 hours, 57 minutes, and 29 seconds. Another Kyrgyzstani competitor, Ilya Kosov, secured the bronze medal with a time of 4 hours, 3 minutes, and 49 seconds.

This victory marks Tikhonin's third IRONMAN 70.3 title and his second win of the 2026 season, following his earlier triumph in South Africa. The organizers confirmed these details.

In the women's elite division, Maria Kurchenko earned the gold medal, completing the grueling course in 4 hours, 20 minutes, and 27 seconds. Ling Er Chou from Singapore took second place with a time of 4 hours, 26 minutes, and 37 seconds, while Lisa Cheng of Hong Kong finished third at 5 hours, 8 minutes, and 11 seconds.

The successful outing in Malaysia serves as a crucial preparation stage for these athletes ahead of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship scheduled for September in Nice. The IRONMAN 70.3, or Half Ironman, is a middle-distance triathlon race organized by the World Triathlon Corporation, covering a total distance of 70.3 miles (113 kilometers), including a 1.9-kilometer swim, a 90-kilometer bike ride, and a 21.1-kilometer run.