Mumbai: Actor and fitness enthusiast Saiyami Kher has completed her third Ironman 70.3, finishing the endurance event in Italy after a challenging period of training and preparation. Despite difficult weather, travel complications and demanding race conditions, Kher improved her previous 70.3 time by 20 minutes.
Sharing moments from the event on social media, Kher described the Italian race as one of the toughest endurance challenges she has undertaken. She said the build-up had involved two intense months of preparation, followed by unexpected hurdles while travelling to the competition.
According to Kher, an issue with her airline booking created uncertainty just days before the race after she and her team encountered problems related to transporting their bicycles. After eventually reaching Italy, they faced temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius on race day.
The swimming leg brought an additional challenge, with Kher reporting a heavy presence of jellyfish in the water. She said the experience reinforced the importance of focusing on what can be controlled when circumstances become unpredictable.
Kher completed her first Ironman 70.3 in Erkner-Brandenburg, Germany, in 2024 and returned for the event in Jonkoping, Sweden, in July 2025. Her third finish in Italy marks another significant achievement in her endurance-sport journey.
Reflecting on her progression, Kher said each race had taught her something different. Her first attempt was about proving she could complete the challenge, while the second gave her a better understanding of the preparation required. By her third race, she felt more aware of her body, training and race demands.
After completing the latest event, Kher celebrated the achievement with a lighter note, joking about trading energy gels and electrolytes for pizza and tiramisu.
