Working influencer Matt Choi might need moved from marathons to triathlons, however one factor stays the identical: he’s nonetheless getting disqualified.
The Austin, Texas, native made his half-Ironman debut at Sunday’s Ironman 70.3 in Galveston, crossing the road in 5:01:52–however was listed as a DQ. The explanation: Choi acquired a two-minute penalty for drafting on the bike, however did not cease on the penalty tent, as an alternative heading straight to the end line.
“[My time] ought to have been 5:03:52,” Choi wrote on Instagram. “I assumed the 2 minutes can be added to my remaining time, however it wasn’t.”
“These are a number of the studying curves when doing a brand new sport,” he continued. “I adore it as a result of it exhibits that I’m a newbie with loads to study–and [it’s] additionally a reminder to learn the athletes’ guide.”
Earlier race-day incidents
Choi’s mistake could also be as a consequence of inexperience, however it’s the newest in a string of race-day rule violations.
His first offence got here in 2023, when he ran the Houston Marathon whereas sporting any individual else’s bib. A month later, on the Austin Marathon, he introduced a two-person digicam crew onto the course, the place they adopted him on e-bikes, weaving by means of race visitors and slicing off different runners.
Choi repeated the stunt on the 2024 New York Metropolis marathon, as soon as once more bringing his digicam crew on e-bikes onto the course. This time, he was disqualified for unlawful help and banned from all future NYRR races.
Matt Choi acquired caught drafting behind his videographer at Ironman Texas 😂
Then determined to not cease on the penalty tent and the will get DQd.
Good 👏 pic.twitter.com/QRY9ZrdEpf
— Runny McRunFace (@TrailsAndAlesUK) March 30, 2026
In 2025, on the Marquette Marathon in Michigan, the working influencer allegedly used a videographer on a OneWheel E-board who doubled as a cellular help station–a transparent violation of the race guidelines. Regardless of that, Choi used the efficiency to register for the 2026 Boston Marathon.
