SEPANG, Oct 21: The roar of the Spartan community returned stronger than ever as more than 2,000 athletes from 30 countries took on the mud, fire and obstacles of the Spartan Race Malaysia 2025 Kuala Lumpur Trifecta Weekend at Gamuda Cove, over the weekend.
Competitors came from as far as Iceland, Austria, Sweden and Argentina, proving Spartan Malaysia’s pull extends well beyond the region.
The two-day spectacle marked the beginning of a new chapter for Spartan Race in Malaysia, being the first event organised under the joint management of RUNRIO Thailand and SCORE Sports Management — the official Spartan Race licensees for Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore from 2025 to 2027.
This collaboration signifies a refreshed era for the Spartan brand locally, combining RUNRIO’s regional experience and SCORE’s event expertise to deliver world-class race operations while preserving Spartan’s defining spirit of grit, camaraderie and resilience.
Elite domination and standout performances
Malaysia’s very own Saddam Pittli and Vietnam’s Kim Luu Linh emerged as the weekend’s most successful elite Spartans, each sweeping both the BEAST (21km, 30 obstacles) and SUPER (10km, 25 obstacles) titles.
Saddam’s double victory was especially meaningful, marking his triumphant return after nearly a year away from Spartan competition.
“It’s been about a year since my last Spartan Race,” said Saddam.
“When I found out Spartan was returning to Kuala Lumpur, I took the opportunity to compete again. My goal was clear — I wanted to represent Malaysia make the country proud on home soil.”
Despite a near-perfect run, Saddam narrowly missed his target time in the BEAST contest due to a missed spear throw — one of Spartan’s most notorious challenges.
“I was aiming for 1 hour 40 minutes but finished in 1 hour 46 after missing the spear throw and doing 30 burpees,” he said.
“The Hercules Hoist, Spear Throw, and Sandbag Carry were the toughest. The sandbags weighed around 35kg and the route went uphill — it really tested both strength and stamina.”
Kim, meanwhile, was equally impressive with back-to-back wins that underlined her consistency and calm under pressure.
“I’ve raced in many Spartan races before, and in terms of speed, this wasn’t my fastest race nor did I break any personal best, yet this race at Gamuda Cove will hold a special place in my heart,” said Kim.
“After more than a year of hard work, sweat, and doubts and to finally come out on top as the top Elite female made the moment unforgettable and meaningful I will rate this performance over the weekend as my proudest one and symbolizes the payoff of persistence more than perfection.
“This is my second race in Malaysia. I was also here last year,” said Kim.
“The race was very well organised, and the volunteers were incredibly supportive — I really appreciated their energy and encouragement throughout.
“Overall, I truly enjoyed the experience and would definitely love to come back to Malaysia for more races in the future.”
Meanwhile, Individual Neutral Athlete Sergei Kliukin and Ritzy Amor Ectin of the Philippins proved unstoppable in the Age Group races, dominating both the BEAST and SUPER divisions.
A test of endurance, teamwork and willpower
Beyond the elite action, the event also featured the Sprint (5km, 20 obstacles), Kids Race (1–3 km) and the gruelling Hurricane Heat 4HR, drawing athletes of all ages and backgrounds.
Thousands of first-timers and returning Spartans embraced the challenge, pushing through mud, barbed wire, rope climbs and heavy carries — embodying the global Spartan ethos of “You’ll know at the finish line.”
In total, over 400 athletes earned their coveted Trifecta medals, a badge of honour for completing three different Spartan distances within the weekend.
The event was honoured by the presence of YBhg. Dato’ Mohd Yusri bin Mohd Yusoff, Deputy Secretary-General (Culture), Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, who officiated the flag-off ceremony on Saturday morning.
Royal inspiration and community spirit
Adding prestige to the event, Raja Puan Muda Perlis Tuanku Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil — a long-time Spartan and fitness advocate — once again completed the course, reinforcing the message that strength and discipline know no limits.
At 55, Her Highness’s continued participation since 2017 stands as an inspiration to Malaysians of all ages and backgrounds, embodying the true Spartan spirit of perseverance and self-belief.
Malaysia enters a new Spartan era
SCORE Sports Management Chief Executive Officer Patricia Tan said the event’s success reaffirmed Malaysia’s growing enthusiasm for Spartan races.
“We’re thrilled to see Spartan return to Malaysia with such energy,” said Patricia. “Working with Runrio Thailand has been fantastic — this partnership will only strengthen Spartan Malaysia in the years ahead.”
She added that the success of the Spartan Kids Race, which drew around 500 participants, showcased the event’s family-driven appeal.
“Our Spartan Kids Race was amazing — you could see one child bringing along two, three, even four or five adults cheering for them,” said Patricia.
“We had about 500 kids racing, which means around 2,000 people in total just for the kids’ event. Combined with the adult categories, total footfall over the weekend reached close to 7,500 — proof that Spartan has become a true family experience and a meaningful contributor to tourism. This is exactly what we mean by building a Spartan legacy in Malaysia — something that benefits the sport, the community and the country.”
Spartan as a driver of sport tourism and regional growth
Runrio Thailand Chief Executive Officer Boonperm Intanapasat said the successful staging of Spartan Malaysia 2025 marks the start of a three-year journey to elevate Malaysia into a flagship destination for the global Spartan community.
“This weekend marks a new beginning for us — the starting point of a three-year journey toward something bigger,” said Boonperm. “Our goal is to make Spartan Malaysia a true international showcase that reflects top-quality race standards, promotes sport tourism, and builds a strong sense of family and community.”
He said these three pillars — race quality, sport tourism and community — will anchor Spartan’s growth in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
“We’re working closely with partners in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, and plan to bring Indonesia and Vietnam into the fold soon,” he said.
“This collaboration goes beyond sports. It creates new business opportunities, boosts tourism and builds a stronger economic ecosystem for the region.”
Boonperm believes the ripple effect from a thriving Spartan circuit could be substantial.
“If planned well, the impact could reach tens of millions in tourism and business revenue — not just nationally, but regionally,” he said. “This is just the beginning of something much bigger for Southeast Asia.”
For more information, visit the Spartan Race Malaysia official channels:
Facebook: facebook.com/spartanracemalaysia
Instagram: instagram.com/spartanracemalaysia
RESULTS
BEAST (21km, 30 obstacles)
Men’s elite: 1. Saddam Pittli (MAS) 1:46:17, 2. Oleg Stepanov (AIN) 1:54:18, 3. Ludovic Guyonvarch (SGP) 2:07:48.
Women’s elite: 1. Kim Luu Linh (VIE) 2:26:55, 2. Tatcha Kawashima (Tha) 2:54:01.
\Men’s age-group: 1. Sergei Kliukin (AIN) 2:12:27, 2. Jayden Tian (MAS) 2:15:09, 3. Simone Marzo (ITA) 2:23:16.
Women’s age-group: 1. Ritzy Amor Ectin (PHI) 2:27:30, 2. Joelle Lim (SGP) 2:45:50, 3. Shima Kagita (JPN) 2:56:45.
SUPER (10km, 25 obstacles)
Men’s elite: 1. Saddam Pittli (MAS) 52:25, 2. Pierre Aigret (FRA) 53:35, 3. Oleg Stepanov (AIN) 55:17.
Women’s elite: 1. Kim Luu Linh (VIE) 1:18:59, 2. Tatcha Kawashima (THA) 1:32:39, 3. Fawanda Sazali (MAS) 1:46:18.
Men’s age-group: 1. Sergei Kliukin (AIN) 1:06:42, 2. Jongel Ylanan (PHI) 1:07:42, 3. Jayden Tian (MAS) 1:10:48
Women’s age-group: 1. Ritzy Amor Ectin (PHI) 1:18:42, 2. Shima Kagita (JPN) 1:28:34, 3. Klara Hanzlikova (CZE) 1:29:59.
KIDS
Boys: 1. Brandon Ting (MAS) 14:58, 2. Lucas Loh (MAS) 15:33, 3. Zakry Idraky Jafnee (MAS) 15:35.
Girls: 1. Beh Zhi Ying (MAS) 19:55, 2. Ng Yi Chun (MAS) 20:22, 3. Elizaveta Dotsenko (SGP) 20:24.
