Arda
Saatçi
Germany
·
Ultrarunning
Date of birth | September 6, 1997 |
|---|---|
Birthplace | Berlin |
Age | 28 |
Nationality | Germany |
Disciplines | Ultrarunning |
Growing up in Berlin with German-Turkish heritage, Arda Saatçi dreamed of becoming a pro footballer. He played for Berliner AK U19 and SV Altlüdersdorf, but his ambitions were derailed when injury forced his retirement at the age of 18.
Pursuing a variety of sports – swimming, running, weight training among them – Arda leaned towards endurance fitness activities, developing a highly-focused attitude along the way. With extreme training and running marathons as his main focus, he has gained a large following on social media as a fitness influencer. Known as a ‘fitness cyborg’, his audience are enthralled by his high-intensity training – which he practises up to 30 hours a week – and motivational messaging. He does 1,000 pull-ups in under two hours, for example. Why? "Why not?" he says. "I want to push the boundaries of what's possible."
Global ultrarunning expeditions
Extreme running challenges have become Arda’s hallmark. In 2024 he ran from his hometown of Berlin to New York City. Covering a distance of approximately 3,000km, he completed the project after 74 days and a marathon or two daily, despite a stress fracture sustained a few months earlier. This remarkable achievement earned Arda not only worldwide attention but also the prestigious VideoDays Award in the Sports category.
The following year he ran the length of Japan from north to south, also a distance of around 3,000km. He completed this feat in 43 days, running two marathons a day.
Fitness philosophy
For Arda, it’s not all about physical strength. Mental strength is equally important. His motivational messages promote ideas about mental resilience to push beyond the boundaries of the self. He says that every day he takes on a battle against himself. “In the end,” he says, “you’re always just fighting against yourself, against your own ego, against your own inner demons. You vs you.”
“Every day is day one. You are not defined by what happened yesterday. Every morning you have the chance to decide anew who you are and which boundaries you want to push,” is the message Arda has for the world.
Arda Saatçi career highlights
- Ran from Berlin to New York in 74 days in 2024
- Winner of the VideoDays Award for Sports in 2024
- Ran the length of Japan in 43 days in 2025