Maltese ultra endurance athlete Fabio Spiteri is preparing to take on his third Deca Ultra Triathlon, one of the most demanding endurance challenges in global sport, as he continues his mission to support animal shelters across Malta and Gozo.
This effort forms part of Project 100, Spiteri’s ongoing initiative aimed at raising €100,000 to supply food and medical essentials to shelters currently facing financial strain. With donations continuing to come in, he is now €25,000 away from reaching the target.
The Deca Ultra Triathlon covers an extraordinary 2,260 kilometres, the equivalent of completing ten full long-distance triathlons back to back. Over the course of the race, athletes must swim 38 kilometres, cycle 1,800 kilometres, and run 422 kilometres, which is the distance of ten consecutive marathons, all in one continuous endurance effort.
Spiteri heads into the event following a remarkable performance at the Bretzel Ultra Triathlon Deca in Colmar, France, earlier this year. In that race, he placed second overall and broke his own national record by an astonishing 31 hours, finishing in 233 hours, 10 minutes, and 25 seconds.
His participation in Taiwan marks the third time in the space of a year that he will take on the full Deca distance. The race will feature around 30 elite athletes from across the world and forms part of the International Ultra Triathlon Association Grand Prix series. It is also the first time that a Deca Ultra Triathlon is being staged in Asia. Competition begins on 9 November.
Conditions in Taiwan during November are expected to be favourable for ultra-endurance racing, with generally mild temperatures between 15 and 24 degrees Celsius and low rainfall.
Speaking ahead of his departure, Spiteri said he hopes this event will help complete the final stage of his fundraising goal.
“I hope that the Taiwan Deca will be the final push needed to reach this goal. A huge amount of commitment and sacrifice has gone into these triathlons, and I sincerely hope it encourages people to donate. Every contribution counts. Malta is full of generous animal lovers, and their support has made a real difference in the past.”
Spiteri also expressed gratitude to the long-standing supporters of his campaign, including Royal Canin Malta, Cisk 0.0, Epic, and Garmin Malta.
