Five Omani athletes have brought pride to the sultanate after successfully completing the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), the world’s most prestigious mountain ultramarathon, held annually in Chamonix, France.

Dubbed the ‘Olympics of trail running’, the UTMB attracts thousands of elite runners from over 100 countries who test their endurance across punishing alpine terrain spanning France, Italy, and Switzerland. This year, Oman’s participation stood out as its runners braved brutal conditions to finish some of the event’s toughest races.

Khalid Sulaiman al Hatmi and Khusaif Marhoon al Zakwani completed the full 175km course, conquering more than 10,000m of elevation gain. Meanwhile, Yaqoob bin Khalfan al Nadabi, Talal Hilal al Mahrouqi, and Khalid al Farsi crossed the finish line in the 100km category, which included a punishing climb of over 6,000 metres.

Battling storms and exhaustion

For all five runners, UTMB 2025 was as much a mental trial as it was physical. The Alps unleashed their fury with heavy rain, icy winds, plunging temperatures, and even 12 hours of continuous snowfall.

Zakwani, who has completed six editions of UTMB, described this year’s race as “the most difficult yet.” Despite battling oxygen depletion, fatigue, and a recurring knee injury, he powered through to finish after 44 relentless hours. Hatmi, who achieved the fastest Omani and Gulf record of 38 hours, 31 minutes, called the 176km race “a turning point” in his career. “Crossing the finish line filled me with indescribable pride,” he said. “This achievement proves that with patience, persistence, and hard work, nothing is impossible.”

Flying Oman’s flag high

For Yaqoob al Nadabi, one of Oman’s most experienced trail runners, completing the 100 km race was the result of years of disciplined preparation.

“The race presented harsh challenges—temperatures dropped to 4°C at night, rain turned trails into rivers, and the climbs tested every ounce of strength. But my determination to raise the flag of Oman was my greatest motivation,” he told Muscat Daily.

Nadabi, who has competed in endurance races across Oman, the UAE, Turkey, and Thailand, described finishing Mont Blanc as “a milestone in my sporting journey” and pledged to continue representing the Sultanate in international events.

His teammate, Talal al Mahrouqi, echoed that sentiment. “Every step was a fight against nature, but also a step towards proving Oman’s place in the global ultrarunning community,” he said.

Setting Gulf benchmarks

Adding to the celebrations, Farsi set a new Gulf record in his category, completing the 100km race in 14 hours and 50 minutes, despite alpine temperatures plunging to –10°C. “This achievement is just another step in a career full of challenges and accomplishments,” he said.

Symbol of determination

The collective achievement of Oman’s runners on Mont Blanc underscores not only the resilience of the Sultanate’s endurance athletes but also the growing presence of the Gulf in international trail running.

From training under Oman’s punishing summer heat to competing against the world’s best on Europe’s frozen peaks, these athletes have shown that sheer determination can overcome even the harshest odds.

As Hatmi summed it up, “Every achievement begins with a single step. And every step brings you closer to your goals.”

UTMB highlights

• 175km – Distance completed by Khalid al Hatmi and Khusaif al Zakwani
• 100km – Distance completed by Yaqoob al Nadabi, Talal al Mahrouqi, and Khalid al Farsi
• 10,000+m – Total elevation gain on the 175km course
• 6,000+m – Total elevation gain on the 100km course
• 38 hrs 31 mins – Fastest Omani and Gulf record set by Khalid Al Hatmi (175km)
• 14 hrs 50 mins – Gulf record set by Khalid al Farsi (100km)
• 12 hours – Non-stop snowfall endured during the race
• –10°C – Lowest temperatures faced by Omani runners on Alpine peaks
• 100+ countries – Runners represented in UTMB 2025