Huelgas pins Olympic hopes on Kims

MANILA, Philippines — Two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Nikko Huelgas isn’t ruling out Philippine participation in triathlon at the Tokyo Olympics this year but called it a “very sprint finish” for two hopefuls Kim Mangrobang and Kim Kilgroe to qualify in the women’s event.

Triathlon was introduced in the Olympic calendar in 2000 with 52 men and 48 women competing in the 1.5 kilometer swim, 40 kilometer bike and 10 kilometer run. The list of participants was 50 men and 50 women in 2004 then it settled at 55 men and 55 women in the next three stagings. In Tokyo, the mixed relay will make its Olympic debut with each team made up of two men and two women. The format follows the order of female-male-female-male with every athlete finishing a 300 meter swim, eight kilometer bike and two kilometer run before tagging.

“I think we have a chance with our women for Tokyo, possibly with the two Kims,” said Huelgas. “But usually, this has to be assured a month before the start of the Olympics. Another Kim – Kim Remolino – is very talented by nature and truly for me, is our next hope for an Olympic slot, hopefully in Los Angeles in 2028.”

Making it to the Olympics entails collecting world ranking points over a two-year period and results from events, including the mixed relay qualifiers in China on May 9. The Tripartite Commission composed of the IOC, Association of National Olympic Committees and Association of International Federations will award two wildcard slots for men and two more for women. For the Tokyo Olympics, the Tripartite Commission will allocate a total of 104 wildcard slots in 16 sports.

Mangrobang, 29, took the gold and Kilgroe, 31, the silver in the Philippines’ 1-2 finish in women’s triathlon at the recent SEA Games. Mangrobang was also on the mixed relay team that bagged the gold with John Chicano, Claire Adorna and Fernando Casares. In the 2015 SEA Games, Mangrobang pocketed the silver in the women’s event. Remolino, 20, claimed the silver in the men’s event that was topped by Chicano at the SEA Games last month.

Huelgas, 28, ruled the men’s event in the SEA Games in 2015 and 2017 but couldn’t go for a three-peat because he missed the qualifiers to recover from surgery for a fractured left hand sustained in a bike accident last January. He then withdrew from competing for a spot in mixed relay to give other triathletes a chance.

“I was able to make it in time to qualify for the mixed relay in the SEA Games but the day before the final announcement of the lineup, I decided to beg off and give my slot to an upcoming athlete,” said Huelgas. “It made the decision of TRAP (Triathlon Association of the Philippines) easier and seeing the results, it was a great decision and I was happy to see them succeed. I’m back to competing and will suit up for the national team at the Southeast Asian Championships in Thailand on Feb. 21.” Although Huelgas did not see action in the last SEA Games, he was designated captain of the national triathlon squad.

Huelgas has participated in three Asian Games in 2010, 2014 and 2018. His best finish was sixth in mixed relay in 2014. “The 2018 Asian Games may have been my last as I will now focus on long distance triathlon like Ironman and 70.3 distances.” Last August, Huelgas was the best Asian finisher at the 70.3 Ironman in Cebu. He completed the 70.3 mile course in 4 hours, 24 minutes, 54 seconds to land eighth overall. The distance is broken down into 1.2 mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1 mile run. “While I’m focusing on my career in the longer distance, I’m still committed to the national team but by summer, I’ll mix my races in both Olympic distance and 70.3s in the hope of qualifying for the 70.3 Ironman World Championships,” he said.

Huelgas competed in swimming, water polo and badminton at Elizabeth Seton high school then became a track and swimming varsity athlete for La Salle where he graduated with a marketing degree in 2014. It was in 2009 when he was invited to try triathlon and after a year, broke into the national pool for the sport.

Huelgas said the transition to triathlon wasn’t difficult. “I was a long distance athlete from my category in both swimming at 1,500 meters and track at 10,000 meters so I just did cycling during the weekend with friends in the morning,” he said. “As a triathlete, I’ve learned to train twice a day as a daily regimen.”