at the age of 54 Kasauli’s Rakesh Kashyap achieved historic success in ultramarathons like Badwater 135 (USA), Brazil 135 and Spartathlon (Greece). Kasauli’s Rakesh Kashyap proved that age is just a number. 54-year-old Rakesh Kashyap has made India proud on the international stage by completing three ultramarathon races considered to be the toughest in the world. He has become the first and only Indian to successfully complete Badwater 135 (USA), Brazil 135 and Spartathlon (Greece). He told that Badwater 135: Victory of life in the valley of death This 217 km long race starting from Death Valley of California to Mount Whitney is called the toughest race in the world. The temperature goes above 50 degrees Celsius. Three mountain ranges have to be crossed on the way. It is worth noting that Rakesh Kashyap completed this race in 31 hours 24 minutes which is the fastest time ever by any Indian resident. With this, he stood 19th in the global ranking.
Brazil 135: Overcoming the challenges of the Amazon
In this 241 km race located in the hot and humid climate of Brazil, Rakesh completed the race in 45 hours 12 minutes and got the distinction of being the only Indian finisher in the 2025 edition. He got 7th place globally. He is also recorded in the India Book of Records as the runner who covered the longest distance (210 km) in 24 hours at the age of 51.
Spartathlon: Stepping into the present at the speed of history
This historic race of 246 km from Athens, the capital of Greece to Sparta repeats the race of Phidippides. Rakesh successfully completed this race with strict time limit and difficult geography and hoisted the flag of India there too.
Achieving the status of “Ultra Trinity”
By completing these three prestigious ultramarathons, Rakesh has completed a unique “Ultra Trinity”, in which no Indian has been able to participate till date.
