Moroccan triathlete Ichem Zaher completed the London-Paris Enduroman triathlon on the weekend, which is widely regarded as “one of the most challenging in the world,” Morocco’s News Agency (MAP) reported on Monday.
The Enduroman, also known as the “Arch to Arc,” commences at London’s Marble Arch and culminates at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It features some of the most challenging disciplines in the sport.
The event was scheduled from August 19-28, testing competitors to their limits with a 140-kilometer run, a swim of over 40 kilometers across the English Channel, and a bike ride of 300 kilometers to Paris.
“This is a dream come true. This accomplishment shows that with determination and perseverance, everything is possible,” Zaher told MAP, as he proudly raised the Moroccan flag at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, amongst the ambiance of the Paralympic Games.
“The achievement is not only a personal victory but also a message of hope and inspiration,” according to Zaher, who said he was “very happy” to become the first Moroccan and African” to undertake this challenge, requiring “exceptional perseverance” matched by “indomitable determination.”
Zaher’s commitment extends beyond athletic competition. He is also involved in a fundraising initiative to provide heart surgeries for Senegalese children with congenital defects.
“My goal is to prove that the only limits we have are the ones we set for ourselves. But more than that, I hope this feat can save lives by providing concrete help to children who need these vital surgeries,” he said.
A native of the kingdom’s northeastern city, Oujda and residing in France, the athlete believes in Morocco’s potential to shine on the international endurance sports scene. He considers his achievement “a significant feat in the history of Moroccan sports.”
About his athletic pursuits, the sportsman participated in an array of events, including the Marathon des Sables, twice in Morocco and once in Peru. He also completed around ten Ironman races, which entail 3.8 kilometers of swimming, 180.2 kilometers of cycling, and a 42.195-kilometer marathon run.