By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: After years of training for one of the world's toughest ultra-trail races, Mount Kinabalu porter Daved Simpat crossed the finish line in Chamonix, France, carrying more than a personal achievement with him.
The 44-year-old completed the gruelling 174km Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) in 28 hours, 53 minutes and four seconds last month — a journey rooted in nearly 18 years of working as a porter on Mount Kinabalu.
For Daved, the feat reflects the strength, discipline and perseverance he developed while carrying climbers' loads up and down the mountain he considers home.
"Mount Kinabalu has shaped me a lot, not only as an athlete but also as a human being.
"It is a part of my life and has become a place for me to learn my strength," he told the New Straits Times.
Standing at 4,095 metres above sea level, Mount Kinabalu has been Daved's workplace, livelihood and training ground for much of his adult life.
His experience as a porter laid the foundation for his transition into ultra-trail running.
Carrying heavy loads up the mountain taught him to keep moving despite exhaustion, manage his energy and push on when his body began to feel heavy.
He found the same principles applied to ultra-trail running — knowing when to run and when to walk, conserving energy and, most importantly, refusing to give up when the going gets tough.
His UTMB finish, therefore, meant more than completing a race.
As the first of seven Malaysians to cross the finish line after almost 29 hours, his thoughts turned to his family, friends and everyone who had supported him throughout the journey.
The father of two from Kampung Himbaan in Ranau also hopes his achievement will inspire fellow Kinabalu porters and young Sabahans to believe that their circumstances need not determine how far they can go.
Daved takes pride in his roots as a Mount Kinabalu porter and does not view the occupation merely as a stepping stone to becoming an international athlete.
"I want to show that our background is not a barrier. From a mountain in Sabah, a porter can also stand on one of the biggest ultra-trail stages in the world," he said.
As Malaysia celebrates Malaysia Day, Daved said he was proud to carry Sabah's and Malaysia's names onto the international stage.
He believes Sabah has much to offer, from its mountains, forests and natural environment to its people, talent and potential.
His message to young Sabahans is simple: dream big, regardless of where they come from or what they do for a living.
For Daved, the journey from carrying loads on Mount Kinabalu to completing one of the world's toughest ultra-trail races is proof that hard work, self-belief and perseverance can take a person further than they imagine.
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