BERLIN, Some might call Jonas Deichmann a madman, and the 37-year-old extreme athlete from Stuttgart might not disagree.
For 120 days, starting on May 9, 2024, and ending last Friday, Deichmann completed an astonishing feat: 120 consecutive triathlons, each consisting of a 3.8-kilometer swim, a 180-kilometer bike ride, and a 42.2-kilometer run, setting a new world record.
Despite the grueling challenge, Deichmann claims to feel both mentally and physically well. "For a project like this, you have to want it with every fiber of your being and keep the conviction alive that there's a compelling reason to do it," he said after crossing the finish line in Roth, near Nuremberg, a city renowned for hosting one of the world's top triathlons.
Hundreds of fans accompanied Deichmann on his final, 120th race, cheering him on to the finish. "I'm happy to have done it here; it was an unprecedented, special feeling," he said, though he admitted that during the last race, he "felt like this might be [his] last one for now."
Remarkably, Deichmann reported feeling better after his 120th race than he did after his 10th or 15th. "It seems the body gets accustomed to the strain," he noted.
Each day, Deichmann began his swim at 6:30 a.m., allowed himself 6.5 hours of sleep, and took a 12-minute power nap halfway through the bike ride after 90 kilometers.
While it's likely that Deichmann will continue pursuing extreme challenges in the future, he says, for now, he's finished and feeling a basic fatigue. Though his body seems ready to keep going, his mind is telling him it's time to stop - at least for now. (Xinhua)
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