The Arabian Sea was just waking up when more than 1,300 athletes from 31 countries sprinted into the waves at Miramar Beach. The humidity in Goa was thick, the crowd cheered loudly, and the 5th edition of Ironman 70.3 kicked off on Sunday, November 9. Hours later, two recognisable figures crossed the finish line—exhausted, blistered, sunburnt, yet victorious— Tejasvi Surya, a Member of Parliament for Bengaluru South, and Annamalai, a BJP leader from Tamil Nadu.
On the course, they weren’t leaders or lawmakers; they were just competitors refusing to give up. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to offer encouragement. “I’m excited to see more young people joining events like Ironman 70.3 in Goa.
Tejasvi Surya and K. Annamalai complete Ironman 70.3 Goa 2025
For K. Annamalai, the journey started months earlier with a personal commitment—to push his limits and develop an athlete’s mindset. “Earlier this year, I promised myself to keep pushing my fitness goals, build resilience, and embrace an athlete’s mindset,” he said.
“Today, after swimming 1.9 km in the open sea, cycling 90 km over Goa’s hilly terrain, and running 21 km, I realise this challenge tested not only my endurance but also the strength of my mind.”
Second time, battling jellyfish stings
For Tejasvi Surya, this race meant redemption. A busy travel schedule left him showing up in Goa without any rest. “I arrived in Goa just the previous evening after a week of travelling. The excitement didn’t let me sleep well,” he recalled.
Moments before the race, he stood on stage next to tennis legend Leander Paes to start the event—a privilege that only added to his nerves. At 7 AM, he dove into his first open sea swim. “The water was warm but rough. The salty water stung my eyes, making it hard to find my rhythm,” he said. “I survived a jellyfish sting and some chafing from my trisuit, but I finished strong.”
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