Ironman burnout and defeat, it's real but rarely gets attention

Ironman Langkawi: Real stories of triumph and failure - 03
In this series we try to show some of the real stories of Ironman Langkawi 2024. An Ironman is so much more than just the finish line. Everyone battles through challenges, some end in triumph and some end in absolute heartbreak and devastation.
Seasoned Ironman Arif shares about some of the dark sides of Ironman training and racing that is quite common but rarely gets spoken about. The extreme stress on the body during training can lead to mood swings, burnouts and in worst cases anxiety and depression. Arif got a taste of this during his preparations for Ironman Langkawi, and on top of that he suffered a crash that forced him to DNF (did not finish) the race. It is a heartbreaking story that ended in defeat.