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Alumnus Lee Junior (BBA 2000) swam 3.8km, raced 180.2km on his bicycle and ran 42.2km - all for China's inaugural Ironman Race held on 20 April 2008 in Haikou, Hainan Island. And he did it all within 16 hours 38 minutes.
"My training buddies used to call me the 'Crash Test Dummy'," jested Junior, referring to his tendency to crash while riding his bike during both training sessions and races. "Now they refer to me as 'The Legend'!"
The title was bestowed upon him by his friends for completing what is touted as one of the toughest endurance races in the world - after just 10 months of picking up triathlon.
But victory wasn't without pain. Junior's foray into multi-sports was anything but a smooth ride.
"I had undergone a knee surgery in 2003 and led three years of sedentary lifestyle. One day in 2006, I learned that an ex-classmate from NUS Business School, Mr Gary Loh (BBA (Hons) 2001), was a regular marathoner. I decided to emulate him and took part in a half-marathon in December 2006. With less than three months' training, I failed to complete even 1km of the race. And injured my knee again."
Following this injury, Junior took up swimming while recovering from his injury. With encouragement from a friend, he signed up for the Singapore Biathlon 2007 and completed it without incident.
Fuelled by a desire to further his sporting endeavors, he purchased a triathlon-specific bicycle so that he could compete in triathlons.
Recounting the race, the self-employed entrepreneur, remembered the daunting distances, his constant battles with debilitating cramps, a bike crash, digestive and nutritional issues and the mental challenge of being out on the race course for such a prolonged period of time.
Yet to him, there was no thought of giving up whatsoever. "As long as my body would respond to my mind, I would race with a smile for all my supporters and volunteers out on the course."
Trainings with the renowned local triathlon group, the Eastern Night Riders (ENR) cemented his reputation as an athlete who seldom backed down from a challenge put forth to him.
He further attributed his 'never-say-die' and 'can-do' spirit to his time in NUS Business School and his involvement with the NUS Business School Alumni Association (NUSBSA).
"My experience as one of the youngest Directors on the Board of NUSBSA since 2000 gave me the opportunity to work with and learn from alumni such as Mr Wong Ah Long (MBA 1972) and Mr Yeo Keng Joon (MBA 1985), who are leaders both in the business world and field of volunteerism."
"Besides helping me unconditionally to realize my hidden potential, they imparted countless invaluable traits such as the willingness to try new things without any guarantee of success, to contribute without seeking rewards, and to show a willingness to take on challenges while being fully aware of seemingly insurmountable obstacles that may lay ahead, through leading us by example."
Armed with the experience of completing Ironman China, Junior is now looking forward to his next sporting challenge.
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