KUCHING: Triathlon racing is not new to Sarawak, but the Borneo 100 Triathlon is setting a new benchmark as the first world-class standard race of its kind in the state.
According to Race Director, Eric Tay, the event slated for June 21, 2026, in Sematan features a professional timing system handled by the same technical team involved in national-level races and the 2025 SEA Games, alongside sanctioning by the Malaysia Triathlon Association.
Tay described the event as a significant leap forward for the state’s endurance sports scene, elevating both organisational standards and athlete experience.
“Triathlon racing isn’t something new in Sarawak, but if we are talking about world-class race standards, we are proud to say this is the first of its kind,” he told Sarawak Tribune over the phone.
Since opening early bird registration from Nov 15, 2025, to Jan 15, 2026, Tay said that Borneo 100 has secured 200 participants so far, with numbers continuing to rise ahead of the May 16 closing date.
The target for this edition is 300 athletes.
The event has also attracted strong out-of-state and international participation.
Currently, 50 per cent of registered athletes are non-Sarawakians, travelling from West Malaysia, Sabah, Brunei, Singapore and other regions. International delegates make up 13.5 per cent of total participants.
With these figures, Tay noted that Borneo 100 is set to become the largest triathlon event ever staged in Sarawak.
The categories included in the Borneo 100 cater to athletes of varying experience levels.
The Sprint Individual consists of a 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run, while the Olympic Distance Individual features a 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run.
The Olympic Distance Relay allows teams of three athletes to complete one segment each.
The B100 Triathlon Individual consists of a 1.5km swim, 80km bike and 18.5km run.
Meanwhile, the Standard Aquathlon Individual includes a 1.5km swim followed by a 10km run without the cycling segment.
Tay emphasised that the goal is not only to attract seasoned triathletes but also to create a competitive platform for local athletes to experience a professionally managed race without having to travel overseas.
“The participants will experience what it feels like racing in a triathlon outside of Kuching. Meanwhile, seasoned triathletes from outside Kuching will find the whole format familiar, similar to how they are used to racing globally,” he said.
With growing participation and national recognition, the Borneo 100 Triathlon is poised to strengthen Sarawak’s reputation as an emerging hub for endurance sports in the region.
