Pune Athletes Make Global Mark at IRONMAN Hamburg and Brazil 2025

On June 1, 2025, endurance athletes from RadStrong Coaching, mostly Pune-based, demonstrated their grit by successfully completing the IRONMAN Hamburg European Championship and IRONMAN Brazil. Led by coach Dr. Kaustubh Radkar, a total of 16 athletes conquered these gruelling races, pushing themselves through a 226 km challenge: a 3.8 km swim, 180 km cycling, and a full 42.2 km marathon in vastly different conditions.

While IRONMAN Hamburg tested competitors with its strict 15-hour 30-minute cutoff, IRONMAN Brazil offered its own challenge through a demanding bike course with an elevation of 940 meters.

At IRONMAN Hamburg, 12 athletes represented RadStrong Coaching among 44 Indian participants, showcasing incredible perseverance and teamwork. The group initially came together to support Amit Thete, a former Indian Army Major attempting his first full distance IRONMAN. Their collective preparation translated into impressive results, with Amit Thete completing his maiden IRONMAN in 14 hours, 8 minutes.

“As an ex-Army Major and sports enthusiast, completing my first full Ironman was a very special experience,” Thete told Pune Pulse. “It was a journey where intense training, diet, and mind control were the pillars, but it was the camaraderie with experienced buddies that truly made the dream come true. The race itself exceeded my expectations with its vibrant atmosphere, keeping all of us going strong until the end.”

Mihir Barve emerged as the third-fastest Indian finisher, completing the race in 11 hours, 41 minutes.

“The beauty of endurance sports is that you compete against yourself; the urge to keep improving motivates me to get faster with every race,” Barve shared with Pune Pulse. “This simple life lesson is the North star that guides my journey.”

The group’s senior-most participant, Ashish Sandu (55-59 age group), finished in 14 hours, 39 minutes. Dr. Kaustubh Radkar himself crossed the finish line in 13 hours, 44 minutes, securing his 41st IRONMAN finish. The rest of the contingent crossed the finish line within the cutoff time.

Success in South America

Meanwhile, over in Florianópolis, Brazil, four RadStrong athletes from Pune conquered South America’s signature IRONMAN race. Dashrath Jadhav, at 68 years old, was the senior-most athlete among the Indian participants, bringing experience and determination to the challenging course. He finished in 14 hours, 56 minutes, and 18 seconds, securing the title of fastest Indian at IRONMAN Brazil. Venkatesh Kashelikar (16:17:34) and Jadhav now share a rare distinction—having completed an IRONMAN on all six continents, joining a select global club of endurance athletes.

“My triathlon journey, which began with Olympic distances in 2016 and evolved into IRONMAN races, culminated on June 1st, 2025, with the incredible achievement of completing an Ironman on every continent,” Venkatesh Kashelikar told Pune Pulse. “This unique feat, years in the making, has been a testament to consistent training and the unwavering support of my loved ones.”

Nikhilesh Pant (14:56:19) and Hemant Parmar (16:20:36) rounded out Pune’s representation with strong finishes.

This collective success, a source of immense pride for Pune, is a testament to the athletes’ physical grit and serves as a powerful inspiration for aspiring individuals to dream big and push beyond their perceived limits.

“Witnessing the finish line smiles of 15 of my athletes at IRONMAN Hamburg and Brazil fills me with immense pride,” added Radkar while speaking to Pune Pulse. “Their journey involved rigorous training through the harsh Indian summer conditions and navigating their busy professional and personal schedules. My role is to work with each athlete to get the best out of their potential, and there is nothing more satisfying than seeing them on the course, brilliantly executing the race strategy, and benefiting from the powerful company that encourages each other for a stronger finish.”

RadStrong Athletes at IRONMAN Hamburg 2025

Aalok Thakurdesai, Amit Thete, Ashish Sandu, Chinmay Diwan, Kaustubh Radkar, Mihir Barve, Nikhil Dixit, Preyas Annachhatre, Sameer Inamdar, Tanmay Nahar, Vikrant Ghotge and Vinay Wekhande

RadStrong Athletes at IRONMAN Brazil 2025

Dashrath Jadhav, Hemant Parmar, Nikhilesh Pant, Venkatesh Kashelikar