Filipino triathlete John Leerams Chicano today delivered the first 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) Gold Medal for the Philippines in the swim-bike-run race held at Subic Bay Freeport, giving the host country its three-peat win.
John Chicano emerged victorious in the campaign to keep the 3rd straight SEA Games Triathlon title won by the Philippines in the Kuala Lumpur 2017 games and in Singapore at the 2015 edition of the biennial meet. Chicano won the silver in the 2017 SEA Games, following fellow Filipino Nikko Huelgas.
Chicano, a homegrown athlete from the nation’s Go for Gold grassroots program and the 2018 Tri-Factor International Triathlon Champion, clocked in at 1:53:23 at the finish line.
As in all three editions where the Philippines finished with both the Gold and Silver, the 2019 SEA Games host also secured the 2nd place podium finish with Andrew Kim Remolino clocking in at 1:55:01.
The 19-year-old Remolino of Talisay, Cebu is the national junior champion who led the two qualifying races for the SEA Games.
The Philippines’ women triathletes will also seek the 3-peat in their division with two Kims vying for the SEA Games gold: defending champion Kim Mangrobang goes for gold alongside partner Kim Kilgroe.
Mangrobang won gold at the 2017 SEA Games as Claire Adorna secured the silver. The Filipina triathletes also won the Philippines’ gold and silver at the 2015 SEA Games with Claire Adorna bagging gold and Mangrobang getting the silver.
Kim Mangrobang and Kim Kilgroe are set to join the women’s race on December 1.
The 30th SEA Games Opening Ceremonies was staged on November 30 with a spectacular entertainment showcase of Filipino world-class talent welcoming the over 5-thousand regional champion athletes who are participating in 56 sports and 530 events from December 1-11, 2019.
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