Kochi: Kerala High Court judge Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas has scripted history by becoming the first judge in India to successfully complete the Ironman 70.3 Triathlon held in Goa. The 57-year-old jurist completed the grueling endurance test, comprising a 1.9 km ocean swim, a 90 km cycling leg and a 21.1 km run, in 8 hours and 46 minutes.

To advertise here,

Overcoming rough ocean waters and jellyfish stings during the open-water swim, Justice Thomas transitioned seamlessly through all three disciplines without taking breaks. Out of 1,650 participants from around the world, nearly 400 failed to reach the finish line, highlighting the difficulty of the event.

Justice Thomas revealed that maintaining physical fitness amidst an intense work schedule - often requiring up to 18 hours daily for court hearings, case reviews and writing judgments – was his primary motivation.

Inspired by his son, Tarun Thomas Kurian, who successfully completed the triathlon in a previous edition while pursuing higher studies in the UK, the judge dedicated an hour every day to rigorous training despite his demanding judicial duties.

He was supported in Goa by his wife Mariam George and daughter-in-law Miriyam Joseph, along with encouragement from his daughter Susan Kurian, an attorney practicing in the United States. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas is the son of retired Supreme Court Judge Justice K T Thomas.