Milind Soman and Abhishek Mishra: Triathletes turned endurance champions

Endurance is key for a triathlete. Ask actor-turned-runner-turned triathlete Milind Soman, who won the Ultraman triathlon — the world’s toughest endurance challenge — in February this year and Abhishek Mishra, a two-time winner of the Ironman Triathlon, covering a staggering 140 miles from start to finish.


Milind Soman took up triathlon racing to celebrate his 50th birthday. (Image: BCCL)

Nerves of steel
Mishra, who has also participated in the three-day Ultraman triathlon, decided to become a triathlete in March 2014. “I had seen a video of the Ironman and decided to do it myself,” he said. “I did not know swimming and so I started learning that.” Mishra faced his share of detractors. “Many people told me it would be tough. But I took this up as a challenge. In 2015, I participated in my first Ironman in Spain and won the title.


Soman says fitness keeps him happy. (Image: BCCL)

The second was in South Africa in 2016 and in November last year I participated in the Ultraman,” he said, adding “This November, I am going to Malaysia to do my third Ironman.” Soman, on the other hand, took up triathlon racing to celebrate his 50th birthday. “I had never participated in a triathlon and I don’t like cycling. Some people do the Olympic Distance Triathlon first. Some do the Ironman three or four times before the Ultraman. I did nothing like that,” he explained. “I first did Ironman and then Ultraman.


Soman with his mother Usha after completing the threeday Ultraman triathlon. (Image: BCCL)

I took it up as a chance to explore; a challenge, everything is quite unplanned that way,” said the 51-year-old, who completed the race barefoot. “I used the triathlon as a chance to celebrate my landmark birthday, something that many people kept asking me about. People asked me where the party was, and I really don’t do parties. I wanted to make my 50th memorable and I think I managed to do it by winning Ironman,” he added.

Abhishek Mishra participated in the Ironman triathlon for the first time in 2015. (Image: BCCL)
No pain, no gain
While most fitness experts swear on the importance of training, Soman doesn’t like the idea of it for himself. “I don’t train for anything. I believe in being prepared. Whatever I have to do, my body can do it,” he said. But Mishra may disagree. Training for the triathlon, he said, changed his life. “When I started training, everything would revolve around running. Then when I decided to compete in a triathlon, it was about cycling, running and swimming. My idea of training for a triathlon was such that I must be familiar with all three. I am an okay swimmer, a good cyclist and a strong runner. When I train, I put in more work in swimming and cycling,” he said.

Health, wealth or happiness
So, if given a choice, what would they choose: health, wealth or happiness? “I will take out wealth as it is more about health and happiness,” said Mishra. “I was a party animal. But the training and workout has brought discipline to my life. This entire experience has contributed to my happiness. Being happy is the necessity of life. Even if you have millions of dollars, you want to be happy. I feel light, calm and composed as I have achieved a lot.” Soman said he too would choose health and happiness. “I was never unhealthy or unfit. I have been fit all my life. I have been 73 kg since I was 19 years old. Fitness keeps me happy. Happiness is different for different people. When it comes to wealth, I have enough money. I don’t want to be the richest man in the world. I was really popular as a model, but it doesn’t excite me anymore,” he said.