Has Southeast Asia Caught Up to Philippine Triathlon?
Once the region's undisputed powerhouse, the Philippines now finds itself slipping behind Indonesia and Singapore in elite multisport racing.
Contributed by PH Sports Stories. Opinions expressed are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of SBR.ph. For story leads or submissions, email [email protected].
Is the Philippines’ Triathlon Dominance in Southeast Asia Coming to an End?
The Philippines has been the most dominant country in triathlon since 2015[1]. Including the recent addition of duathlon, aquathlon, and mixed-relay events, our athletes have earned 14 golds, 9 silvers, and 3 bronze medals since the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore.
Looking Back: Our SEA Games Legacy
| SEA Games | Triathlon | Duathlon | Aquathlon | Mixed Relays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | W | M | W | M | W | ||
| 2015 (Singapore) | Nikko Huelgas (Gold) | Claire Adorna (Gold), Kim Mangrobang (Silver) | Not held | Not held | Not held | ||
| 2017 (Malaysia) | Nikko Huelgas (Gold), Rambo Chicano (Silver) | Kim Mangrobang (Gold), Claire Adorna (Silver) | Not held | Not held | Not held | ||
| 2019 (Philippines) | Rambo Chicano (Gold), Kim Remolino (Silver) | Kim Mangrobang (Gold), Kim Kilgroe (Silver) | Joey Delos Reyes (Silver) | Monica Torres (Gold) | Not held | Triathlon (Gold), Duathlon (Bronze) | |
| 2021 (Vietnam) | Fer Casares (Gold), Kim Remolino (Silver) | Kim Mangrobang (Gold), Raven Alcoseba (Bronze) | N/A | Kim Mangrobang (Gold) | Not held | Not held | |
| 2023 (Cambodia) | Fer Casares (Gold), Kim Remolino (Bronze) | Kim Mangrobang (Silver) | N/A | Kim Mangrobang (Gold) | Remolino (Silver) | N/A | Aquathlon (Gold) |
Source: Wikipedia
However, results from recent 2025 races suggest that Indonesia and Singapore have more than caught up.
In Chennai, all Indonesian athletes finished ahead of us in both the men’s and women’s divisions — including a first-place finish. In Putrajaya, Indonesia and Singapore’s top finishers again bested us in both categories.
At the 2025 Asia Triathlon Sprint Championships in Hong Kong, four Indonesian and two Singaporean athletes placed ahead of our top male representative. On the women’s side, two Indonesians also finished ahead of our three entries.
The trend continued at the same event’s mixed-relay category, where Indonesia finished more than three minutes ahead of us.
Just this weekend in Subic, the top Indonesian and Singaporean males again finished ahead of our top Filipino. On the women’s side, Indonesia cracked the top 8 — on our home soil.
Emerging Trends: The 2025 Numbers
| Placing | 2025 Asia Triathlon Cup Chennai | 2025 Asia Triathlon Cup Putrajaya | 2025 Asia Triathlon Sprint Champs (HK) | 2025 Asia Triathlon Cup Subic Bay | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | W | M | W | M | W | R | M | W | |
| Philippines | 19, 25 | 8, 11 | 29, 40 | 16 | 47, 48, 50, 51 | 29, 32, 34 | 9 | 14, 16, 21, 25, 29, 30… | 11, 14, 19, 20 |
| Indonesia | 6, 18, 20 | 1, 6, 7 | 17, 26, 31, 34 | 7, 17, 21, 30, 32, 36 | 26, 39, 45, 46 | 11, 27 | 8 | 9, 17 | 8 |
| Singapore | 21 | 9 | 27, 39, 47, 51, 53, 58 | 14, 23, 33 | 38, 43, 52 | N/A | N/A | 11, 37 | 18 |
Source: World Triathlon results pages
Of course, these outcomes don’t reflect everything — especially what events our athletes are targeting. Kim Mangrobang, for instance, is preparing for duathlon at the 2025 World Games. The SEA Games are just around the corner, with a full slate of multisport events. No doubt, our national coaches and officials are tracking these results and working on plans to sustain our past success.
Also worth noting: actual placings don’t always reveal whether an athlete has improved in each discipline — swim, bike, or run — even if overall finish ranks stayed the same.
Two names to watch: Indonesians Martina Ayu Pratiwi (21) and Rashif Amila Yaqin (23), who have consistently led their national teams. Yaqin, in particular, is a known quantity — he won silver in triathlon and gold in aquathlon at the 2023 SEA Games, finished top 9 at the 2023 Asian Games ahead of Fer Casares and Kim Remolino, and is now racing in World Cups.
Indonesia’s athlete pipeline is also impressive, with many competitors in U18 or U23 divisions.
Singapore may not have dominant breakout stars, but they’ve built a dependable group with multiple solid finishers — especially in the sprint format.
That’s not to say we lack talent. Promising Filipino names like Kira Ellis, Sam Corpuz, Matthew Hermosa, and junior standout Dayshaun Ramos (our top male in Subic) prove we still have firepower in the ranks.
Competition among ASEAN neighbors should be viewed positively. Young athletes pushing each other can only raise the level of performance — especially against East Asian powerhouses like Japan, Hong Kong, China, Korea, and Taiwan.
[1] We should also acknowledge the legends who paved the way: Arland Macasieb won bronze in 2005 and 2007; George Vilog took silver in 2007; Alessandra Araullo-Gonzalez claimed back-to-back silvers in 2005 and 2007; and Maria Melliza Gayle Lucas earned bronze in 2007.
SBR.ph Editorial Perspective
We’re proud — fiercely proud — of what our elite triathletes have achieved. Dominating Southeast Asia for the better part of a decade is no small feat. From Nikko to Kim, Fer to Claire — our flag has flown high, and often alone, on the podium.
But as the contributor rightly notes, the race is evolving. The competition is catching up. And maybe that’s exactly what we need.
Because the goal was never to just win the region. The real test lies beyond.
The next true proving ground is the Asian Games — and from there, the Olympic stage. That climb demands more than heart. It calls for full-system support: world-class training environments, international race exposure, grassroots development, and a clear, long-term vision.
Do we have the athletes with the talent and grit to do it? Absolutely.
Do we have the best infrastructure in Asia? Not yet — but we’ve never been the type to make excuses.
This sport has always been built on grind. And grit is something we have in abundance.
We believe in the roadmap ahead — one led by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP), shaped by passionate coaches, and powered by a new generation ready to make their mark.
We thank PH Sports Stories for sparking this conversation. It’s not a crisis. It’s a checkpoint.
And if you’ve ever raced, you know what that means: re-focus, and get back out there.
Let’s rally behind our athletes. Let’s stay hungry. Let’s race harder.
Because the finish line isn’t here. It’s still ahead.
