Spartan Race Malaysia – The World’s Largest Obstacle Race spanning 48 countries and 150 races annually, took place in Johor on 27 & 28 April 2024 making it the first major Trifecta Weekend tournament across Southeast Asia as well as the First Opening Event of the 2024 SOUTH ASEAN SERIES (Singapore – Indonesia Malaysia) with the support of Tourism Johor.
Spartan Race Malaysia entered Malaysia for the first time since 2015 and has organised 13 races with over 68,000 participants involved.
The KL Trifecta Weekend 2023 event, held on 28 – 29 October 2023, had successfully gathered close to 6,000 participants from 30 countries, including 1,300 international participants.
Speaking in a press conference a day before the race, Michael Goodwin, CEO of the organiser, Unbreakable Events Malaysia Sdn Bhd., said the race will see more than 6,000 participants from 18 countries at the Estuari Sports Centre, Iskandar Puteri, Johor. Also present were Mohd Amin Kadiman, Deputy Director of Johor Tourism, and Muhammad Ali Abdul Karim, MSNJ Strategic Communications Section Assistant Director.
This round will also qualify participants for the APAC Spartan Race Championship on Australia’s Gold Coast in September 2024.
The 18 countries involved include Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, UAE, China, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, South Korea, Cambodia, Vietnam, France, Egypt, Germany and Kuwait.
Among the competing categories were Spartan Beast 21KM (27 April 2024), Spartan Super 10KM (28 April 2024), Spartan Sprint 5KM (27 to 28 April 2024), Spartan Kids 1 to 2KM (27 to 28 April 2024) and Hurricane Heat (27 April 2024)
The organisation of this race, which is expected to attract the interest of participants from all over the region, was seen as an initiative to position the State of Johor as a sports tourism hub with the organisation of various international level sports events, in addition to coinciding with preparations for the implementation of Johor Visit Year 2026.
Obstacle course racing was approved as a part of the modern pentathlon being approved for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA (LA28).
Members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the IOC Executive Board’s proposal to confirm the addition of Modern Pentathlon which will feature a sprint obstacle race between competitors, in addition to fencing, swimming, and a laser run.
In 2028, modern pentathlon will be a part of the Olympic programme at the Summer Games in Los Angeles, after being approved by the IOC’s 141st session. This vote ensures that Modern Pentathlon will continue to be a part of every Summer Olympic Games.
