27-year-old Moroccan competitor Mohamed Nemsi has recently become one of the top names in Duathlon. This is a sport that requires great strength and agility in order to compete at the highest level in both running and cycling. In The World Games, competitors run 10 km, then cycle 40 km and finally run a further 5 km. – the ‘standard distance’ in Duathlon.
Nemsi, who is now based in Qatar, has earned a spot for his country for TWG 2025 by winning this year’s African Duathlon Championships. Here he tells us about his qualifying event and his preparations for future competitions.
Hard qualification race in Egypt
“The African Duathlon Championships took place in Hurghada, Egypt. It was a challenging course: the run was along a sandy coastal sidewalk, which made it hard to find stable footing, while the bike course was technical, with a lot of wind and intense heat,” says Nemsi.
“There were 12 athletes from different countries competing, and the competitive atmosphere was intense. This victory qualified me for The World Games (TWG) in Chengdu, which is an amazing opportunity.”
Nemsi was also part of the winning Mixed Relay team (one woman, 1 man) at the Championships in Egypt.
Training is a challenge in Qatar
Qatar is not the best location for training, says Nemsi: “Training outdoors in Qatar can be challenging, especially during the summer when the heat and humidity are extreme. It requires a lot of adaptation to avoid the effects of the weather. I optimize my training according to the season, and also rely on alternative solutions to ensure my key sessions stay on track. My weekly training includes swimming, running, and cycling, along with strength training, totalling around 22 to 26 hours per week.”
Nemsi also keeps in competition form by competing in both running events and cycle races: “I regularly participate in running and road biking competitions. Competing with stronger athletes allows me to push my limits, which is a great way to progress and stay competitive. I actively seek out events with a high level of competition to fine-tune my skills.”
But for him, his sport is much more than just competition: “Sports and competition are integral parts of my daily life. They help me stay focused and disciplined, and help maintain a good balance in life. Beyond competitions, I also practice my sport for enjoyment and to keep myself in excellent physical shape.”
Keeping in touch with Morocco
“I stay connected with the Duathlon scene in Morocco by frequently travelling there to compete in Duathlon championships with my team. This makes it much easier to stay motivated and in top shape. I also enjoy the camaraderie and support from my team-mates during these events.”
Mohamed Nemsi feels very honoured that Morocco will be at TWG 2025: “I’m looking forward to a competitive and inspiring experience at TWG. My goal is to push my limits, represent my discipline with pride, and connect with other athletes from around the world. It will be exciting to see how well I perform on such an international stage, and I’m dedicated to making the most of it,” he says. Team from Morocco will for sure be aiming for a medal next year!
At TWG there are individual competitions for men and women, and a Mixed Relay; Duathlon will be in TWG for the third time in 2025. At TWG 2022, French athletes won all three races. The women’s race was won in a time of 2:01:38 and the men’s in 1:47:57 – fantastic times for 15 km of running and 40 km on a bike, plus the change-overs!
The International World Games Association (IWGA) is a non-profit-making international sports organisation recognised and supported by the International Olympic Committee. The IWGA comprises 40 International Member Sports Federations. It administers and promotes The World Games (TWG), a multi-sport event held every four years that features around 35 sports on its programme. The next edition of TWG will be in Chengdu (CHN) from 7-17 August 2025. 5,000 participants from more than 100 countries are expected to take part in this 12th edition. The latest Games were hosted by Birmingham, Alabama (USA).
For more information, please contact the IWGA Media and Communication team: [email protected], Tel: +41 21 311 12 97, or visit our web site.