In 2017, something unexpected happened in Langkawi.

Two accountants who had never trained together ended up sharing the same Ironman journey.

Johnny Sia belonged to IronManCadet.
I trained with Southern Tiger Warriors.

Back then, the triathlon community in Johor Bahru was so small that we all knew of each other by the name or face.

But Johnny and I had never raced side by side not even in half-marathons or half-triathlons.

It took a coincidence to change that.

We boarded the same flight from Johor Bahru to Langkawi before the race.

For the first time, we had a proper conversation about our industry, about training, about life. By the time the plane landed, I felt I knew him much better.

Then came race day.

3.8 km swim.
180 km bike.
42 km run.

Langkawi’s heat was brutal. One of toughest Ironman event in the world.

The sea was rough. The climbs (especially the Hantu hill) felt endless. But somehow, we both made it through. And on that day, Johnny and I became Ironman finishers.

Life has moved on since then.

I shifted towards motorbiking, bikepacking, pickleball, and trail running.

Johnny, as far as I know, stepped back from triathlon due to work and family commitments.

Yet, every now and then, our paths still cross at MIA or CTIM seminars or Inter Audit Firm Game instead of at the starting line of sporting event.

Who knows? Maybe one day, we’ll lace up again.

We are Ironman.