The Times of Malta’s photographer Matthew Mirabelli this evening achieved his childhood dream of becoming an Ironman after completing the Ironman Vichy challenge in France in 11 hours 44 minutes.

The triathlon challenge involved a 3.8-kilometre swim in lake Allier, a 180-kilometre bike ride through the regions of Allier and Puy-de-dome and a 42-kilometre run through the shores of Lac d'Allier and historical Vichy.

Mr Mirabelli described the gruelling challenge as was very tiring but rewarding.

"It was something I have wanted to do since I was 12 but kept putting off. Now I finally did it," he said.

Mr Mirabelli said that although his goal was to finish the challenge, he also wished to complete it in under 12 hours and he succeeded. To become an Ironman, one has to complete the challenge in less than 17 hours.

The triathlon was no easy task and although he had trained hard for it, he did not really know what to expect and found it to be not just physically challenging but also mentally.

"You go through a finish line and have to start all over again. You go through another finish line but it's not over, you have to start again," he said.

It was so tough that as it was underway he thought he would never do it again but now that it was over, he intends to repeat it one day.