13-Year-Old Mulham and Shaffa win Aquathlon Championship in Maafushi

Thirteen year old Ismail Mulham Azim claimed victory in the men’s division of the Aquathlon Championship held in Kaafu Atoll Maafushi, while former volleyball player Aishath Shaffa won the women’s division.

The event, which combines swimming and running, was organized by Swim Maldives, a private club dedicated to long-distance swimming competitions. The individual races were held last Friday, followed by a team event on Saturday.

The most competitive category, the Elite division, featured a one-kilometre swim followed by a five-kilometre run.

Mulham, a junior national pool swimmer, led from the start of the swim and maintained his advantage throughout the race, finishing in 40 minutes and 46 seconds. He was followed by fellow junior national swimmer Mohamed Yaish Izzath in 47 minutes and 31 seconds, with Hussain Fazeel Haaroon close behind at 47 minutes and 33 seconds. Fazeel, initially trailing, made a remarkable comeback to overtake five competitors during the run.

In the women’s division, Shaffa narrowly defeated Finland’s Noora Patkonin and former national women’s football team player Mariyam Mohamed (Maayan). Shaffa finished in 1 hour, 1 minute, and 25 seconds, just four seconds ahead of Patkonin, who came second. Maayan completed the race in 1 hour, 15 minutes, and 27 seconds.