The first thing you notice about Saiful Islam Rasel is not the medals; it is the calmness. No loud claims. No dramatic speeches. Just quiet focus. Yet behind that calm sits a remarkable story of endurance, both in water and on land.
A teacher by profession. A swimmer by passion. A triathlete by choice. That is the life of a young athlete from the University of Dhaka who turned childhood energy into national achievement. He completed his studies in Soil, Water, and Environmental Science at the university. Later, he pursued a Bachelor of Physical Education. Why? “Since childhood, I have loved sports,” he said. “I always wanted to stay connected to it.”
That passion shaped his career. In 2022, he joined Udayan Uchcha Madhyamik Bidyalaya as a teacher. He now teaches Physical Education and sports science. For him, the classroom feels personal. Teaching was not just a job choice. It was a childhood dream. “A teacher and a coach are almost the same,” he explained with a smile. His sports journey started much earlier. As a child, he ran fast, played football, and dominated school competitions. Swimming became his strongest event. In 2002, he joined national-level swimming competitions. Soon, he became a regular champion in inter-school events. “Sports became my lifestyle,” he said. “So I never felt pressure handling both studies and sports.”
Picture: Saiful Islam Rasel.
Back then, he focused on sprint events. He competed in short-distance swimming and sprint races. At the University of Dhaka, he won swimming titles three times. He also became a running champion at his residence hall.
Then his attention shifted. One tragic incident changed his direction. A student from his university drowned in a campus pond. The news hit hard. Bangladesh faces high drowning deaths every year, especially among children. He could not ignore it. “If I have training and skills, why should people still die in water?” he asked himself.
That question pushed him toward open-water swimming. He started studying drowning patterns across Bangladesh. Most deaths happened in rivers, ponds, and remote waters. Bridges were not the issue. Lack of water skills was.
He joined the Bangladesh Swimming Federation talent hunt camp to sharpen his techniques. Later, he joined intensive training under a South Korean coach. That experience built his confidence.
Picture: Saiful Islam Rasel.
Then came the legendary Bangla Channel challenge. For swimmers, the Bangla Channel is no joke. Sixteen kilometers of open seawater. Strong currents with endless waves. At first, he was a short-distance swimmer. He trained for 50 and 100-meter events. Suddenly preparing for 16.1 kilometers felt almost absurd. Still, he committed.
For months, he woke before sunrise and trained for hours. Some mornings began with three or four hours in the water. Slowly, his body adapted. He heard stories about famous swimmers like Lipton Sarker. Those stories inspired him further. Soon, he joined their training circle.
Then came December 18, 2018. That morning, he entered the sea from Shah Porir Dwip for his first Bangla Channel swim. The conditions were tough. When he reached the other side, people started shouting. He had done more than finish the swim. He broke a 12-year record. He completed the crossing in 3 hours, 47 minutes, and 8 seconds. “It was a different feeling,” he recalled. “I touched the shore and heard I made history.”
That moment changed everything. He continued competing in Bangla Channel events year after year. People suddenly became interested in open-water swimming, inspired by his success.
Picture: Saiful Islam Rasel.
He competed in Oceanman events and represented Bangladesh in both the Asian Championships and World Championships. His journey also expanded into triathlon, where he competed in national and international endurance races. In 2024, he became champion at the Eastern Triathlon in Comilla and later secured second runner-up position at the Wild 70.3 Triathlon. That race included 1.9 kilometers of swimming, 90 kilometers of cycling, and a 21-kilometer run. He has also completed the ActivePulse Duathlon Dhaka 2025.
“Inshallah, I want to prepare for the full Ironman in Malaysia,” he said confidently. Surgery for a ligament injury caused setbacks. Many athletes lose hope there. Yet he remained focused.
Apart from competing, he also trains swimmers. Big names among Bangladeshi triathletes like Mohammad Shamsuzzaman Arafat and Arifur Rahman Belal have trained under him. He is currently personally training Ayman Sadiq for his Ironman 70.3.
His story also reflects a bigger picture. Bangladesh’s endurance sports scene is growing fast. More young athletes are joining open-water events, marathons, and triathlons. Communities are forming. Awareness is rising.
And athletes like him are helping lead that change. A boy who loved sports became a teacher. A sprinter became a record-breaking endurance swimmer. A swimmer became a triathlete chasing Ironman dreams.
