Ahmad Dani (left) with Dr Amir Fariz after their warm-up swim before Ironman Langkawi 2025. Photos: Dr Amir Fariz Zakaria
Dr Amir Fariz Zakaria, 45, did not remember what happened during the last 3km run of Ironman Langkawi 2022.
He was only determined to reach the finish line after racing for almost 13 hours.
But from the sideline, his eldest son, Ahmad Dani Amir Fariz, 19, remembers every moment. “I recalled motivating him. I knew he could finish it in under 13 hours,” he says.
“It was at that point that I realised I wanted to do this too. I wanted to challenge myself to the fullest,” says the first year Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia law student.
That moment of watching his father dug deep – fighting pain, exhaustion and doubt – stayed with Ahmad Dani long after the family returned to their daily life of work, study and weekend ride and run.
“My dad is my role model. Ever since I started running and cycling, he has always supported me with training and provided the necessary equipment so I can perform well,” he adds.
After years of being his father’s cheerleader and ride-and-run buddy, this year, Ahmad Dani decided to be more than just a sideline supporter.
“I signed up for Ironman Langkawi much earlier this year, but it was only later that Dani was confident to join,” says Dr Amir Fariz.
Both father and son didn’t waste any time and went on to plan specific training, including a warm-up triathlon.
While Ahmad Dani was already strong in running and cycling, swimming was his weakest link: he hadn’t had any formal swimming lessons.
Still, Dr Amir Fariz didn’t think this was unsurmountable. He enrolled Ahmad Dani in technique classes and open-water training. They both signed up for the Melaka 113 Triathlon in September, a test race before Ironman Langkawi 2025 a month later.
Not only did Ahmad Dani complete the race; he finished second.
“It was then that I encouraged him to aim for his first Ironman 70.3 to qualify for the IM 70.3 World Championship,” says the orthopaedic spine surgeon, who is also a four-time Ironman finisher.
Side by side
Preparing for the Langkawi race demanded discipline and sacrifice – not just from Dr Amir Fariz and Ahmad Dani, but their entire family.
Since both have full-time commitment – Dr Amir Fariz with his work in Hospital Sungai Buloh and Ahmad Dani with his classes in UKM – they only had weekends to train.
“Although it was usually long hours of cycling,” Dr Amir Fariz says, “it was truly enjoyable as we would have time for breakfast and lunch together.”
Dr Amir Fariz Zakaria (centre) with his family after completing Ironman Langkawi 2025.
In the weeks leading to the Langkawi race, their training began to emphasise swimming endurance and bricks – a combination of bike and run.
“The training was quite demanding but I was still able to cope since I didn’t have many classes and I have friends who run,” Ahmad Dani says.
He admits the biggest challenge was managing his time to train, study and have a social life.
Even then, their weekend rides weren’t always smooth. There were days when Ahmad Dani gave up when the sun was too intense, or when Dr Amir Fariz found himself struggling and let his son lead the peloton.
But each low point came with its own lesson in grit and partnership. “There were numerous times I felt like quitting, when the swim workout was so brutal that my arms were sore or the weather was too hot that it hit me during long rides,” says Ahmad Dani.
“But my father would always remind me that these are all mental games.”
The long training hours also meant the rest of the family had less time with Dr Amir Fariz, and Ahmad Dani was aware of it too.
“I sometimes feel bad for my siblings because the bond I have with my father is more than what they get,” he says.
Father and son with their respective Ironman medals.
But Dr Amir Fariz was able to compensate for the loss of family time. “Either we’d get back in time for lunch or the family would meet us at one of our stops for breakfast or lunch,” says the father of four, aged 11 to 19, adding that family vacations are usually trips that coincide with race events.
“Over the last few years, our year-end holidays were centred around places we want to cycle to, like Muar, Cameron Highlands, Fraser’s Hill and Melaka,” he adds.
A family affair
When race day arrived, marking the climax of months of discipline and sacrifice, the whole family felt the excitement.
“My mother is my manager and the head of the #teamafz cheer squad. She designed T-shirts for us while my siblings created placards and posters,” says Ahmad Dani.
Before the two men began their races – Dr Amir Fariz in Ironman Malaysia 2025 and Ahmad Dani in Ironman 70.3 Langkawi – the youngest boy in the family, Ahmad Aaron, 14, hit the route for Ironkids.
The rugby player, who is no stranger to duathlons, triathlons and aquathlons, finished 16th in the 11–15 age category.
Ahmad Aaron crossing the Ironkids finish line.
This made the family’s annual Ironman Langkawi trip extra special, as three of them raced in their respective categories.
Ahmad Dani says the image of his mother, Assoc Prof Dr Sabariah Salleh, 45, and his siblings – Ahmad Andi, 16, Ahmad Aaron and Sue Hannah Natasha, 11, at every transition gave him the energy to push through as he focused on his World Championship qualifier.
“I remember feeling super emotional and how much I wanted to make them proud,” he continues.
And Ahmad Dani did just that. He finished seventh in the 18–24 age category, completing his race within six hours and qualifying for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in France next year.
It was a piece of news he received proudly with his mother and siblings. His father was still out racing.
“Since we trained together, his presence was always on my mind during the race. But I had no information about his race as we started and ended separately,” says Dr Amir Fariz.
He remembers walking back to their hotel room from the finish line when Ahmad Dani told him, “Papa, I qualified for the World Championship.”
“It was definitely a sweet surprise, and I am still emotionally pleased and proud that he achieved this as a newbie,” says Dr Amir Fariz, who qualified for the Ironman World Championship after the 2022 Ironman Langkawi race; the very race that inspired Ahmad Dani to follow his father’s path.
