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I don’t think I’ll ever feel like I’ve arrived
The first Indian actress to conquer Ironman 70.3 twice, Saiyami Kher proves resilience, discipline, and self-belief can shatter every limit. Saiyami however, also tells us that she is still chasing more
By Lineysha Jain
Saiyami Kher is no stranger to pushing boundaries — both on screen and off it. Just months after completing her first Ironman 70.3, the actress returned to the punishing triathlon course, determined not to prove herself to the world, but to better her own performance. In this conversation, she opens up about shaving 32 minutes off her time, training with military precision while balancing a chaotic film schedule, and finding quiet power in resilience. From recovering after a near
career-ending accident to redefining what fitness means for women in cinema, Saiyami’s story is as much about grit as it is about grace.
What made you want to do the Ironman 70.3 again in the same year—unfinished business or new goals
It’s not about proving anything to the world. I’ve never thrived on external validation. Endurance sport is deeply personal. It’s a race against my own self, against my own doubts. My only goal this year was to be better than I was last year.
Crossing that finish line a second time — did it feel different from the first? What emotions ran through you?
This time, I was way more nervous… But knowing I had improved, finishing 32 minutes faster than last time, felt quiet but powerful.
How did you mentally and physically prepare to go through it twice so quickly?
My training is quite intense, six months, six days a week, with three sessions each of swimming, cycling, and running, plus one general training session, totalling 10 sessions a week. It’s broken down scientifically. If you’re consistent, anyone can do it.
What did your typical peak-prep training day look like
A typical day would include multiple sessions across disciplines — swimming, cycling, running and an extra session for general conditioning. It’s structured month-by-month to build up steadily.
What challenges did you face — mentally, emotionally, physically — and what helped you overcome them?
After a serious biking accident in 2023, which left me physically and mentally shaken, I did nothing for eight months. Then that discomfort drove me to sign up for a big race. On race day, even on my period, feeling heavy and bloated, I leaned on mindset: self-talk, trusting my body, using gear I’d trained with and pushing through discomfort.
Who was your biggest support system through this journey, and how?
My coach, Kaustubh Radkar, laid out the plan after I literally started training from zero post-accident. His structure and guidance were essential in fighting both internal and external battles to train.
Was there an athlete or public figure who inspired you to take on the Ironman in the first place?
Participating in Ironman has always been on my wish list. Of course, it’s never easy to prepare for such a gruelling race. I was going to do it in 2020, but COVID happened, and the race got deferred. Endurance sports help clear my mind. For me, they are a form of therapy. It’s challenging physically, but more so mentally. You are with yourself. You are not allowed to listen to music, so it’s you vs you. It’s you against all your fears, anxiety and thoughts. Sports help me understand myself better. I met Milind (Soman) once before my first Ironman race and he is incredible, so fit and grounded. He told me not to overthink and that ‘it’s not such a big deal.’ That helped calm me.
As the first Indian actress to complete Ironman 70.3 twice, how do you hope this reshapes conversations around fitness for women in the industry?
I wasn’t chasing being first but it just happened. Our industry’s chaos makes such feats harder. I’m proud I managed it alongside my work schedule. I hope it inspires other actresses and more women in general to do it too.
Does the entertainment industry give enough space for actresses to embrace athleticism and non-conventional achievements?
As an actor with erratic hours, training is a daily challenge. Yet I didn’t let that stop me. Completing Ironman while balancing shoots proves that these accomplishments are possible and meaningful, even if space in the industry remains limited.
What did you learn about yourself during those gruelling hours through pain, weather, and uncertainty?
I learned that when I stopped fighting my body and started trusting it, something shifted. That quiet internal voice, ‘You’ve trained through pain, fatigue, low days’ kept me going. Showing up on hard days teaches me the most.
How has completing the Ironman changed your perspective on health, resilience, or even your acting career?
It’s not about fitting into some box. Endurance sports helped me find calm, clarity, and strength. It’s a deeply personal celebration of effort unseen. That carries into how I show up in every other part of my life.
If you could give yourself one piece of advice before your first Ironman, what would it be?
Don’t jump in from the couch and expect to conquer. Start gently, train consistently, and trust the process.
How did you balance acting commitments with full-time triathlon training?
My profession is chaotic, 14-hour days, night shoots. But I structured training into everything, even when it meant squeezing in sessions. It was about determination, not convenience. I used to cycle during my shots. Because there are always longer breaks during the shifts so I never wasted those break periods.
What films or projects are you particularly excited about?
There are a couple of projects which I have signed on but we are waiting for the right time to announce them.
As an artiste, have you reached the point you wanted to be, or are you still hungry for more?
I don’t think I’ll ever feel like I’ve ‘arrived’. The hunger to explore, to try new genres, to work with directors who challenge me — that’s what keeps me going. Just like in endurance sports, in acting too, you can always go deeper, push further, and discover something new about yourself. So yes, I’m grateful for where I am, but I’m still chasing more.
Now that you’ve conquered Ironman 70.3 twice, is the full Ironman next?
In the first build-up, I had eyes on a full marathon; next was focused on improving timing and enjoying the journey. It’s on the card.
