When Saddam Pittli steps onto the Spartan Race course, there’s always someone small watching closely – his 9-year-old son, Syahid Al Zahran, eyes wide with admiration, cheering at every obstacle his dad conquers.
For Saddam, a champion in Malaysia’s obstacle racing scene, that’s the real victory. Because beyond medals and podiums, what he’s truly building is a legacy – not of competition, but of inspiration.
“If you want your child to love the sport, you have to love it first.”
Saddam believes children learn best by example, not instruction.
“If we want our kids to love something, we have to be active too,” he says. “We can’t expect them to succeed in sports if we’re not moving ourselves.”
When his son first showed interest in what he was doing, Saddam didn’t turn it into a training session. He turned it into play.
“I never say, ‘We’re going to train,’ because the word itself makes kids feel pressured. Instead, I say, ‘Let’s play.’”
Turning Training Into Play
At the gym, Saddam keeps things light.
“Even if my son lifts just a 5kg dumbbell – that’s already heavy for him,” he says, laughing. “So instead of making it serious, I turn it into a challenge. I’ll say, ‘Let’s see who can lift more!’ but of course, I let him win.”
It’s not about competition, it’s about enjoyment.
“When kids feel joy in doing something, they naturally want to do it again and again. That’s where passion begins.”
Sometimes, his son doesn’t want to stop. Saddam admits, “There are days I’m already tired, but he still wants to play. That’s when I know, he’s starting to love the process.
Find the Passion, Don’t Force It
Saddam’s golden rule as a parent: never force it.
“You have to find what your child enjoys first. If they don’t love it, no amount of coaching or training will help,” he says. “It’s just like studying, if there’s no interest, there’s no progress.”
That’s why Saddam makes sure every activity starts with excitement, not pressure. Whether it’s climbing, jumping, or running, he focuses on encouragement, not perfection.
“Don’t push too hard or scold them when they fail. When a child feels fear, they lose interest. And once that interest is gone, it’s very hard to bring it back.”
The Making of a Little Spartan
For Saddam, sport isn’t just about fitness, it’s about connection.
“I want my son to see that sports are fun, not a burden,” he says. “When he starts taking it seriously, that’s when I reward him, maybe a new T-shirt or pair of shoes. Something small, but meaningful.”
Today, Saddam’s “Little Spartan” isn’t just watching from the sidelines, he’s racing too. Mini obstacles, rope climbs, muddy runs. The same fire that drives Saddam now flickers in his son. And each time his boy crosses the finish line, Saddam cheers with the same passion he brings to his own races.
Because for him, the true victory isn’t about standing on the podium, it’s watching his son fall in love with the same journey that once shaped him.
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