Phuket, Thailand, November 25, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The 2023 Laguna Phuket Triathlon, Southeast Asia's most prestigious triathlon, culminated on November 19, 2023, at Laguna Phuket, a lifestyle resort on the island of Phuket. With over 1,000 Thai and international triathletes from 30 countries participating, the event provided a thrilling and entertaining experience, highlighting Phuket's potential as a world-class sporting venue. Once again, Phuket's picturesque setting proved its appeal as a location for hosting high-profile sporting events.

The competition begins at 6:30 a.m. with the start of the triathlon, featuring professional men and women. Following this, the participants in the sprint triathlon and the duathlon will plunge into the Andaman Sea for their swim at Bang Tao Beach.

The triathlon participants face demanding stages: a 1.8-kilometer swim in the Andaman Sea and lagoon, a challenging 55-kilometer bike course through the mountains, and a demanding 12-kilometer run in Laguna Phuket. All races finish in Laguna Grove, with the finish line closing around 12:30 PM.

In the men's race, British triathlete Max Stapley took the victory this year, making his debut at the Laguna Phuket Triathlon. He secured first place with an impressive time of 2 hours, 32 minutes, and 53 seconds. Second place went to Swiss athlete Max Studer with a time of 2 hours, 34 minutes, and 9 seconds, while third place was claimed by Frenchman Anthony Costes, who completed the race in 2 hours, 35 minutes, and 32 seconds.

Kate Waugh from Great Britain secured the women's title at the Laguna Phuket Triathlon. She completed the challenging course in 2 hours, 46 minutes, and 4 seconds. Julie Derron from Switzerland took second place with a time of 2 hours, 47 minutes, and 45 seconds, while Sophie Malowiecki from Australia finished third with a time of 2 hours, 52 minutes, and 12 seconds.

Amid a strong presence of Thai triathletes at this year's competition, Thanadol Wisarutsin, an 18-year-old national team player and the youngest participant, secured the Thai championship with an impressive time of 2 hours, 51 minutes, and 51 seconds. Jaray Jearanai, the eleven-time Thai champion, completed the race in a remarkable 2 hours, 53 minutes, and 33 seconds. Another notable competitor was Tao-Somchai Khemglad, a crowd favorite from the 1990s. Making his Laguna Phuket Triathlon debut, he mastered the challenge with ease. This success marks a significant milestone and fulfills his dream of competing in a top-tier international triathlon program.

Mr. Paul Wilson, Vice President and Deputy General Manager of Laguna Phuket, said: “We congratulate the winning triathletes of this year’s championship. Our sincere thanks go to all participants from all walks of life for their dedicated efforts, which contributed to the success of the 29th Laguna Phuket Triathlon and a great victory for Phuket, Thailand. This success reflects the unity and community spirit and paves the way for the continued growth and success of the Laguna Phuket Triathlon in the years to come. We invite everyone to look forward to the next edition and promise that the 30th edition will undoubtedly be even bigger than ever before.”

The Laguna Phuket Triathlon is known worldwide as Southeast Asia's most traditional and successful triathlon event. Over the years, it has attracted numerous highly qualified triathletes from all over the world.