OBCC Student Sebastian Busto Goes the Distance with Impressive Finish at Ironman World Championship

Sebastian Busto doesn’t back down from a challenge. As an Executive MBA student in the Healthcare Organization Leadership program at UT Dallas, he keeps busy balancing his career and education. Even with a full schedule, Busto pushes himself to dream big, work harder, and accomplish more. He embraces the challenge of being the best version of himself and hopes to inspire others to do the same.

That drive has always been with him. As a child, he was not one to sit on the sidelines. He loved being active, whether on land or in the water, but it was during Sebastian’s time in high school that he first learned of the Ironman Triathlon, a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, followed by 26.2 miles of running – all in one day – one after the other. Never one to shy away from a challenge, he decided he was up for the test.  

He was already a strong swimmer but had only run 3-mile races and had never ridden a road bike. For most, the goal is to finish the race before the 17-hour cutoff, which was Sebastian’s initial goal. Taking the race piece by piece, he began training for the portion he believed would be the most challenging – running. He quickly worked up to marathon competitions, a significant accomplishment for anyone, but this was only a third of the challenge that would lay before him.

With a marathon or two under his belt, he added water and wheels to the training by competing in short-distance triathlons. After a few years of training, it was time to put the pieces together. He marked November 2020 on his calendar for the Ironman Arizona race day. “I trained like crazy for it, but when race week arrived, they canceled due to Covid. I did all the training, and my family flew from Guatemala to cheer me on, so I was not going to let that stop me. I completed a self-supported Ironman distance triathlon with my family and close friends cheering me on in Arlington, Texas. I finished with a time of 10 hours and 52 minutes. I could not believe it!”

With an impressive self-supported time in the books, Sebastian was ready for his first official Ironman in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in May 2021. His goal was to finish the race in one piece without seeking medical attention. He did that and more; with a new personal record and a time of 10 hours and 26 minutes, he qualified for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. “I could not believe it. Attending the Ironman world championships is the dream of every triathlete. Still, it is tough to achieve because you must be in the top percentage of your age group in a given race to qualify. This was my first official Ironman, and I did it; I could not believe it!”

Fast forward to October 6th, 2022, and Sebastian is toeing the line of the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, surrounded by the best endurance athletes from all over the world. After completing four Ironman competitions and almost four years of training, this was the day he envisioned. The day started with a fast swim through the beautiful crystal-clear waters of the Pacific Ocean. He then jumped on the bike for the next six hours and rode through the lava fields of the volcanic island, battling crazy headwinds and crosswinds. Sebastian focused on his nutrition strategy to ensure he had enough energy and electrolytes to handle the heat.

He was off to a hot and humid marathon with the cycling portion complete. “It was a long and hard day, but I could hear the crowds when I ran back into Kailua-Kona with one mile to go. At that moment, everything made sense. All of the sacrifices, the early mornings and the late nights, the long training hours, the races I endured, the injuries I overcame, everything made sense. I could not help but cry from the pride I felt. I remember the last right turn onto the long finish line, surrounded by fans and flags from all over the world, and I hear, “Sebastian Busto, you are an Ironman.” What an experience!