Ben Dhiman

Ben Dhiman, from the round ball to the trails 🥾

As a child, Ben kicks a ball and discovers a driving force that will never leave him ⚽️. After high school, he drops out of university, strings together odd jobs, then swaps his apron for a backpack 🎒. In 2012, he devours the 3,500 km of the Appalachian Trail in six months. At 24, he does it again on the Continental Divide Trail and its 5,000 km along the continental divide ⛺.

On the road, between Nepal and India, he meets Ophélie, his future wife. The couple settles in the Hautes-Pyrénées, and the trails of Occitanie become his everyday playground ⛰️. Results follow quickly: victory at the Grand Trail de la Vallée d’Ossau in 2022, then at the Ultra 105K of Trail 100 Andorra by UTMB in 2023, the year he snatches 3rd place at the Grand Trail des Templiers in a final sprint.

Ben Dhiman’s record 🇺🇸

A guy from Ohio who could have been your next-door neighbor, who went from soccer to hiking, is now among the best trail runners on the planet. Crazy, right? 🤩 His unusual path has forged a true trail champion.

In 2022, Ben returns to the intense island and finishes the Diagonale des Fous in 3rd place in 24:20:52. Chamonix is less forgiving: in 2023 and then in 2024, his UTMB ends in two DNFs. Instead of brooding, the American fine-tunes the machine 💪. He takes the MIUT - Madeira Island Ultra Trail in April 2024, then dominates in 2025 the 100K at the Grand Raid Ventoux by UTMB ahead of Baptiste Chassagne. That year, the Lavaredo 120K follows right behind, before a 2nd place around Mont Blanc in 19h51'37", 33 minutes behind the winner.

Ben Dhiman’s record smashes the 19-hour barrier ⏱️

In late August 2026, the race turns into a demonstration. Ben takes the lead at km 41, then runs solo for 132 km. Under the full moon at the Grand Col Ferret 🌕, he smiles, then becomes the first to go from the top of the pass to Champex-Lac in under two hours. His stops at aid stations add up to barely 9 min. Verdict: 18h16'29", 31 min ahead of Baptiste Chassagne. No one had ever completed the flagship event of the UTMB World Series that fast, including François D’Haene and his 19h01'54" from 2017 🐐. All the details can be found in the UTMB 2026 results.

Chamonix is holding its breath for 2027. In the meantime, follow his adventures and choose your next mountain ultra to book your bib! 🏃