Keith Galea sets personal best at Turkey Ironman 70.3

Maltese triathlete Keith Galea produced one of the finest performances of his career at last Sunday's Ironman 70.3 Turkey, setting a new personal best of four hours and eight minutes.

The impressive result, four minutes faster than his previous best, represents the second-fastest time ever recorded by a Maltese athlete over the half-Ironman distance.

Galea achieved the milestone despite challenging conditions, with torrential rain throughout the race making the cycling section particularly demanding as competitors were forced to slow down on slippery corners.

Adding to his difficulties, Galea was suffering from a stomach virus which affected his ability to retain fluids during the event.

However, he remained composed and successfully managed the situation using spare energy gels, allowing him to produce a strong half-marathon run and secure his record performance.

The result capped an outstanding 2026 season for Galea, who was crowned national champion over both middle and standard triathlon distances.

He also claimed a silver medal at the European Triathlon Championships and finished third at the Poznan Ironman 70.3 Pro Series.

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