Matt Choi, a prominent social media figure, was disqualified from the Ironman 70.3 event in Galveston, My, after failing to serve a two-minute penalty during the cycling segment. Choi, known for his online presence, completed the race in 5 hours, 1 minute, and 52 seconds, but his result was later changed to DQ due to this infraction.
The penalty was issued for "drafting," an illegal practice in which a cyclist rides too closely behind another competitor to reduce wind resistance. Instead of stopping at the designated penalty tent, Choi proceeded directly to the finish line. He later explained on Instagram, "My time should have been 5 hours, 3 minutes, and 52 seconds," indicating he mistakenly believed the two minutes would be added to his final time. "These are lessons learned when trying a new sport. I am still new and need to read the rules carefully."
The Ironman 70.3 is a long-distance triathlon comprising a 1,9 km swim, a 90 km bike ride, and a 21,1 km run. The total distance of 113 km (70,3 miles) gives the race series its name.
Choi, who describes himself on YouTube as an "American-Korean entrepreneur, content creator, and athlete," aims to "push limits, break barriers, and live life to the fullest." He was a star football player at Monmouth University in New Jersey and currently works as a personal coach.
This incident in Galveston adds to a series of rule violations by Choi in previous races. In 2023, he participated in the Houston Marathon using another person's bib number. A month later, at the Austin Marathon, the American athlete had a two-person film crew follow him on electric bicycles, obstructing other competitors.
In 2024, he repeated a similar situation at the New York City Marathon, where he was disqualified for receiving unauthorized support and subsequently banned from events organized by New York Road Runners. Most recently, in 2025 at the Marquette Marathon, Choi was again accused of using a videographer on an electric skateboard as a mobile aid station—an action that violates race regulations. Despite this, he reportedly used this result to register for the Boston Marathon 2026.
Hong Duy (according to Canadian Running Magazine)
