On October 8th, 2025, the 31-year-old Malaysian Chinese athlete, Soh Wai Ching, who won the championship at the 2024 Vertical Marathon World Championship, recently arrived in New York to participate in the Empire State Building Run-Up, where he finished second in the competition involving climbing 80 floors. His visit was warmly welcomed by the Malaysian American Association.
In an interview in Flushing on October 8th, Soh Wai Ching shared his journey of growth. He expressed his pride in being able to bring glory to Malaysia and the Chinese community. He attributed his continuous improvement to his humility and ability to reflect on his performance.
Soh Wai Ching started playing chess at the age of 6 and later developed a passion for sports during his high school years, particularly in cross-country running. This passion led him to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science with a specialization in Sports and Exercise Science at the University of Malaya.
Since 2017, Soh Wai Ching has been challenging himself in the vertical marathon (stair climbing) arena. With a background in sports science, a humble attitude, and a determination to excel, he has grown from being a national champion in Malaysia to one of the world’s top athletes. In 2020, he achieved the top ranking globally (based on the points system) and eventually won the world championship at the Taipei 101 event in 2024.
In his first international competition in 2017, Soh Wai Ching finished 5th, which provided him with a platform to learn from his peers worldwide. He emphasized the importance of learning from others, recalling how he studied the training techniques of the then world number one and world champion from Poland. After three years, Soh Wai Ching surpassed all his competitors and claimed the top spot himself.
His habit of reflecting on each competition promptly has greatly contributed to his rapid progress. He emphasized the value of self-analysis, noting down areas for improvement after each race to ensure he performs better in the future.
Whenever he competes around the world, Soh Wai Ching always brings along various Malaysian specialties and snacks to share with fellow athletes post-competition, inadvertently becoming a goodwill ambassador for Malaysia.
Soh Wai Ching’s constant pursuit of improvement and enjoyment of the sport is evident in his positive outlook on finishing second, stating that there is still room for progress.
For his next major competition goal, Soh Wai Ching is aiming to win the championship at the 2026 World Championships in Malaysia.