Indian Army’s Geeno Antony Finishes in World Top 10 at 24-Hour Ultramarathon Championship

In the quiet coastal village of Thumba in Thiruvananthapuram, early mornings are often filled with the sound of waves and the sight of fishermen at work. But for one young man, the rhythm of running shoes hitting the ground became the heartbeat of a dream. Geeno Antony, an Indian Army soldier, never imagined that his passion for running would someday place him among the top 10 ultrarunners in the world. At the 24 Hours World Championship held in Albi, France, Geeno covered an astonishing 265.198 kilometers in a single day, making him one of the top global performers and the second-fastest Indian at the event. For a man from Kerala who began running just six years ago, this was not just a personal victory; it was a proud moment for India.One Race That Changed EverythingGeeno’s running journey began in 2019 when he participated in his first half marathon. What started as a casual challenge soon became an obsession. “That first race changed me,” Geeno once said in an interview.  He started running full marathons and then discovered ultrarunning races that stretch far beyond the traditional 42.195 km marathon distance. From 12-hour runs to 24-hour challenges, Geeno began testing his endurance, discipline, and mental strength. His consistent performance caught the attention of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), which later selected him to represent India internationally.The Rise to National and International FameIn March 2025, Geeno topped the national selection trials by running 238 km in 24 hours, far exceeding the qualifying mark of 225 km. This performance earned him a place on the Indian team for the World Championships in France. However, this was not his first time representing the nation. Back in 2022, he made his international debut at the Asia-Oceania 24-Hour Championship in Bengaluru, where he finished third. That podium finish secured his qualification for the World Championships in Taiwan, though that race didn’t go as planned. But true athletes rise through setbacks, and Geeno did just that. With renewed determination, he trained harder than ever, balancing the demanding schedule of an Army life with intense endurance training. His dedication bore fruit in France, where he ran his career-best distance of 265.198 km, earning global recognition and admiration.The Race Beyond LimitsUltrarunning, or ultramarathon, is not for the faint-hearted. It’s a sport where the human body and mind are pushed beyond imagination. Any race longer than the traditional marathon distance is considered an ultramarathon, ranging from 50 km to over 400 km. Unlike regular marathons, ultrarunning is not just about speed but about survival, endurance, nutrition, and mental strength. Runners often face fatigue, muscle cramps, hallucinations, and even emotional breakdowns. It’s a journey that demands both physical preparation and emotional resilience. For Geeno, ultrarunning became a way to test his mental limits. The Global Challenge in FranceThe 2025 IAU 24-Hour World Championships in France witnessed athletes from over 45 countries competing to see how far they could run in a single day. The race was not about finishing first; it was about endurance, consistency, and strategy. In the men’s category, Andrii Tkachuk of Ukraine won gold after covering more than 283 km, followed by Jo Inge Norum of Norway and Matti Jonkka of Finland. The women’s event saw history being made as Sarah Webster from Great Britain and Northern Ireland broke the world record by running 278.622 km in 24 hours. Out of the 205 men who completed the race, Geeno Antony finished among the world’s top 10, a feat that has rarely been achieved by an Indian runner.Inspiring a Generation of RunnersGeeno’s success has already started inspiring a new wave of young runners in Kerala and across India. With more Indians now taking part in endurance sports, his journey has shown that the world stage is within reach if one trains with focus and determination. He continues to serve in the Indian Army while training for future ultrarunning events. His next target? To break his own record and push India even higher on the global ultrarunning map.