Recently, Ankur Jain completed one of the world’s toughest endurance events, the Ironman European World Championship, held in Hamburg, Germany, in a single day. By finishing this grueling event ahead of the stipulated time, Ankur earned the Ironman title. This competition is renowned for pushing the human body’s endurance to its limits by setting various challenging targets to be achieved in a single day. Around 3,000 athletes from 30 countries participated in this world-class event.
In this arduous competition, participants must first swim 3.8 kilometers in the icy cold waters of the open sea, immediately followed by a 180-kilometer bicycle race through windy paths, and then complete a 42.2-kilometer marathon run without stopping. Only those who successfully complete these three stages within the specified time earn the Ironman title. The total distance of 226 kilometers must be completed within 15.30 hours, but an enthusiastic Ankur finished it in just 14 hours and 50 minutes.
Ankur has deep roots in Jodhpur. He grew up in Swastik Sadan, Ratanada. Born on September 24, 1980, Ankur was raised with much love and care by his parents, following the birth of his six sisters. His father, the late Ramesh Chandra Jain, was a well-known publisher and bookseller in Jodhpur for nearly 50 years. His mother, the late Kusum Jain, was also a prominent figure in the Digambar Jain community.
Ankur received his early education at St. Anne’s and Mahesh Senior Secondary School in Jodhpur, later earning a B.Com. Honors degree from Narayan Vyas University. Ankur excelled in both academics and sports from a young age. During his graduation, he began studying to become a Chartered Accountant and achieved this milestone at just 23 years old. He then worked with renowned companies E&Y and KPMG for about 15 years. For the past 10 years, Ankur has been managing his legal firm in Gurgaon, establishing offices in several countries.
Despite his busy schedule, Ankur has always been serious about health and fitness. He has run many marathons and once completed a 6-hour stadium run. From childhood, Ankur aspired to do something different. However, participating in a competition like Ironman requires mastering all three sports: swimming, cycling, and running.
Ankur explains that preparing for a world-class competition like Ironman requires immense hard work and preparation. Balancing full-time office work and travel makes this preparation even more challenging. Despite Delhi’s extreme weather, Ankur trained rigorously for several months for this tough competition. His training regimen included 14-15 hours of practice each week, with 2-3 hours of swimming, 4-5 hours of running, and 7-8 hours of cycling, along with about 2 hours of strength training, which was instrumental in his journey. Last year, Ankur also completed the 70.3 Half Ironman in Goa, covering 113 kilometers. Even after falling ill, Ankur did not give up and achieved the Ironman title with unwavering determination, making Jodhpur and India proud. Very few people from Rajasthan have earned the Ironman title, making this a matter of great pride.
Ankur’s success is an inspiration for all working professionals who neglect their health and fitness due to the pressures of work and long hours. He believes that his achievement is not just his own but a testament to the fact that anyone, with strong willpower and dedication, can achieve whatever they desire at any stage of life.
Ankur dedicates this achievement to his late parents, who taught him to remain strong and determined through the toughest times. He believes that their blessings and teachings made this possible. His parents always said that one day people would know them by Ankur’s name, and today, that dream has come true.
