KUCHING: What began as a passion for running during his school days has evolved into a relentless pursuit of excellence for Martyn Lim, whose journey through setbacks, self-funding and perseverance has shaped him into one of Malaysia’s promising triathletes.
The Sarawak-born athlete, who grew up in Matang here, first discovered his love for endurance sports during his secondary school years at SMK Sungai Maong. He competed in track events before transitioning to triathlon in 2019.
“I started from a running background. I really fell in love with it, but at one point I hit a plateau and felt like nothing was working,” he said in an interview with Sarawak Tribune.
A Leap of Faith Into Triathlon
A turning point came when he was introduced to triathlon through a friend.
“I saw my friend competing in a triathlon and thought, why not give it a shot? I liked the dynamic between swim, bike, run and how everything comes together as one race,” he added.
However, his early progress was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted competitions and training opportunities. Despite qualifying for national selection in 2022, he fell short of representing Malaysia at the time.
Undeterred, Lim pressed on, balancing training with part-time work as a swimming and running coach to sustain his career – a reality many endurance athletes in the region continue to face.
“Sports in Asia are not always well supported. Most of us are working while pursuing this out of passion,” he said.
Breakthrough Year
His persistence paid off in 2025 when he enjoyed a breakthrough season, highlighted by victory in the elite men’s sprint event at the Southeast Asia Triathlon Federation Championships.
The achievement marked a significant milestone, followed by bronze medals at the 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in both the triathlon and duathlon events.
Reflecting on his journey, Lim said triathlon has taught him more than just physical endurance.
“It’s about discipline, time management and learning how to balance training with family and work. Time is limited, so you have to make it count,” he said.
A typical training day begins as early as 6.15am with a swim session, followed by recovery, coaching duties in the afternoon, and a second training session in the evening, a routine he maintains almost daily.
Despite the demanding schedule, Lim remains grounded in a simple but powerful philosophy shaped by his journey.
“Never compare yourself with others. The only person you should compare yourself with is yourself,” he said, emphasising that personal growth matters more than external benchmarks.
Eyes on 2026 and Beyond
Looking ahead, Lim has set his sights on qualifying for the Asian Games and eventually breaking into the top ranks in Asia – a challenging goal given the dominance of powerhouses such as China and Japan.
Beyond personal achievements, he hopes his journey can inspire more Sarawakians to explore triathlon, a sport that is steadily gaining ground in the region.
“I want to show that even without perfect support, it’s possible. If I can do it, others can too,” he said.
With local races such as the Borneo 100 triathlon in Sematan beginning to build momentum, Lim believes the foundation is in place for the sport to grow further in Sarawak.
As he prepares for another competitive season, he views 2026 as a crucial phase – one that demands greater consistency and bigger ambitions.
“Once you achieve a goal, it’s easy to become complacent and start slacking.That’s why it’s important to keep aiming higher, set small goals that eventually lead to bigger ones.
“That’s how you stay consistent,” he said.
For Lim, the journey is far from over – if anything, it is only just gaining momentum.
