TRIATHLON – THE countdown is officially on. With 100 days to go until the return of the world’s fastest-growing triathlon event, the Dubai T100 (November 13 to 16), one of the UAE’s most respected endurance athletes, Ghani Souleymane, is kicking off a jaw-dropping challenge: 100 consecutive 100km triathlons in 100 days, ending with his 100th on the start line of the Dubai T100 on November 16.
Starting today at Kite Beach, the attempt is an official Guinness World Record bid and will raise funds for children affected by conflict. Each daily triathlon will follow the official T100 format – 2km swim, 80km bike, 18km run – totalling an astonishing 10,000km.
“This challenge is about more than sport,” said Souleymane who is no stranger to extreme challenges having previously completed 30 ultramarathons in 30 days (2020) and 30 Ironmans in 30 days (2023).
“It’s about showing what’s possible when you give everything and using that effort to help children who’ve lost so much.”
Backed by the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) and part of the global T100 Triathlon World Tour, the Dubai T100 is quickly becoming one of the world’s leading multisport weekends – combining elite racing with mass participation and a vibrant, festival atmosphere set against the city’s iconic skyline.
The event also forms part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC), encouraging residents to commit to 30 minutes of activity for 30 days each year.
Last week also saw the PTO announce the completion of a Series C funding round, led by SURJ Sports Investment alongside Sir Michael Moritz, Cordillera and Verance Capital. The investment will power global expansion and further innovation in formats like the Music Run and Corporate Relay – with the Mena region set to play a central role in the sport’s future.
“As we scale globally, we’re more committed than ever to making triathlon accessible to everyone,” said Sam Renouf, CEO of the Professional Triathletes Association. “Ghani’s 100 x 100km challenge captures everything the T100 is about – elite sport that inspires community and purpose.”
With Dubai the penultimate stop on the T100 World Tour ahead of the Qatar T100 World Championship Final in December, the world’s best triathletes will return to race on one of the fastest courses on the calendar, centred around the famous Meydan Racecourse.
“Last year’s Dubai T100 was unforgettable – fast, challenging, and world-class,” said Julie Derron, Swiss silver medal winning Olympian and current women’s T100 Race to Qatar leader who finished second in the 2024 Dubai T100. “The atmosphere, the fans, and the energy in Dubai make it one of the best events of the season. I can’t wait to be back.”
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