World-class feet feat – Soh Wai Ching’s one of ours

When the KL Tower was taking shape on the tip of the Bukit Nanas hillock, in the heart of Kuala Lumpur back in 1991, the current world champion in the esoteric discipline of tower stairs climbing was not even born yet!

The tower was completed in 1995, and our home-bred champion Soh Wai Ching only came into this world on Sept 28 the year before.

It was only at age 23, in 2017, that Soh took part in his first KL International Towerthon and emerged the best Malaysian climber-runner. He has conquered many more towers after being bitten by this bug and is set to defend his title at the next KL Tower International Towerthon Challenge on Dec 8.

The idea to build the KL Tower was primarily conceived by Telekom Malaysia (TM), the country’s telecommunications company, in the late 1980s. At the time, TM recognised the need for a modern and efficient telecommunications infrastructure to meet the growing demands of broadcasting and communication in Malaysia.

However, the tower was not just intended to serve as a functional telecommunications hub; it was also envisioned as an iconic landmark that would symbolise the country’s technological progress and modernity.

Soh has become synonymous with the KL Towerthon Challenge, which became incredibly popular as a vertical race up buildings or towers held annually. His history with this event, particularly his dominance climbing up KL Tower, has played a major role in elevating the status of the competition on both the national and international levels.

Tower running is a niche sport where participants race up the stairs of tall buildings, and it has grown in prominence worldwide. Soh is known for his exceptional speed and endurance in these events, having established a reputation as one of the fastest stair climbers in the world. When seeing him in person, one cannot detect an ounce of fat on his lithe 5 foot 6 (165cm) frame. He keeps to his ideal competition weight, straddling the scales at just 57.5kg.

Born in Selayang (not in Penang as perpetuated by some write-ups), Soh was initially a track and field athlete, but his transition to tower running marked the beginning of a more focused and successful phase of his career. He now carries a business card that describes him as a full-time professional athlete. Educationally, he earned a degree in Sports Science from Universiti Malaya.

The KL Tower presents runners with a challenge up 2,058 stairs to the top of the tower, which is one of the tallest freestanding towers in Southeast Asia, standing at 421 metres tall. The run has become one of the most famous and challenging stair-climbing events in the world, attracting both local and international athletes.

The first KL Tower Run was held in 1999, and since then, it has grown in popularity, with thousands of participants taking part each year. The event is not just a test of speed but also of endurance and mental fortitude. It’s a challenge that pushes competitors to climb a steep vertical path, with each step bringing them closer to the finish line at the observation deck of the tower.

This KL Towerthon Challenge (as the name has evolved) is part of the Vertical World Circuit, which is a series of global stair-climbing events. These include famous tower races such as the Empire State Building Run-Up in New York and the Ostankino Tower Run in Moscow. The KL Tower Run stands as one of the most important races in the vertical running calendar.

Soh’s relationship with the KL Tower Run began in 2017, when he first made a significant mark on the race. That year, he emerged second overall with a time of 13 minutes and 7 seconds, a remarkable feat considering the demanding nature of the race. This victory marked the beginning of a dominant streak for Soh, who quickly became the athlete to beat in the KL Tower Run.

Since then, Soh has continued to perform at an elite level, dominating the KL Towerthon Challenge for several years. His speed, stamina, and ability to maintain focus in such a physically demanding race have earned him widespread recognition.

Always on the run, Soh will be packing his climbing shoes and heading for Shanghai next. He is looking to improve on his second place earned last year in this year’s edition of the Shanghai Tower International Vertical Marathon. The challenge comprises traipsing up 3,398 vertical steps up 119 floors with a 552-metre elevation.

He has finished 6th, 5th and 2nd (last year) and will be looking to improve on his 18 min 16 sec personal best set then.

Having participated in 149 competitions in 30 countries, 100 buildings and towers, and garnering 106 wins, establishing 76 championship records, he is certainly worthy of the title world champion!

This young man on the run has claimed multiple ‘Championship Titles’ from vertical climbs in Malaysia, the United States, Estonia, Spain, Singapore, Poland, and Taiwan. He set himself a target to become World’s No 1, a feat he achieved and was given recognition by the Sports Governing Body in April 2022 (Tower Running World Association). Ever ambitious, he wants to maintain this exalted position for the next decade!

You can do it, Champ!