The 2023 Spartan World Championship, currently taking place in the Al Wathba desert in Abu Dhabi, witnessed remarkable Emirati achievement, with Abdel-Malik Sassi securing first place in the 5 km night race. The championship is organized by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in collaboration with Spartan, the leading brand in obstacle course races globally, for the second consecutive year, featuring thousands of participants from 70 countries.
Sassi, 36 years old, stated: "After dedicating countless hours to rigorous training, this victory in the night race of the Spartan World Championship is a culmination of relentless preparation and steadfast commitment, and it serves as a significant motivation for me to participate in the 10 km race taking place tomorrow, Sunday, on the final day of the championship."
The first day's competitions also included an elite 3 km race, where top athletes showcased their abilities on a newly designed 3-kilometer obstacle course, which featured stringent qualifiers for the first round, a challenging semi-final, and an exciting grand final. Canadian Lindsey Webster won the women's race, while American Vijay Jones took the men's title, with each receiving a prize of $20,000.
Sherry Portnick, Vice President for Business Development at Spartan, remarked: "With the kickoff of the Spartan World Championship in Abu Dhabi, we noticed the enthusiasm evident among everyone. The Spartan World Championship is a celebration of humanity, bringing together participants from around the world to push boundaries, embrace challenges, and demonstrate their unwavering determination."
The winners were awarded by Ahmed Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Executive Director of the Support Services Sector at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Islam Yaser Sheikh Ibrahim, representative of Bin Hamooda Automotive, the exclusive dealer for GMC and Chevrolet vehicles in Abu Dhabi, and David Watson, Vice President of Corporate Innovation at Spartan.
