Cebuano triathlete Andrew Kim Remolino. | file photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines—Cebuano triathlete Andrew Kim Remolino won’t let his dreams of competing for the Tokyo Olympics next year just fade away.
The 21-year old Remolino from Talisay City, Cebu, together with fellow Philippine team members Kim Mangrobang, Kim Kilgroe, and Niko Huelgas, are scheduled to compete in an Olympic qualifying race, the Hatsukaichi ASTC Triathlon Asian Championships, in April 25, 2021, in Hatsukaichi, Japan.
According to Remolino’s father and trainer, Roland Remolino, Kim’s only chance to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics is to pull off a podium finish in the heavily stacked elite division.
“Crucial ni kay para man ni qualifying sa Olympics. Bisan lisud pero paningkamotan,” the elder Remolino said.
(This is crucial because this a qualifying for the Olympics. Even if it’s going to be tough, we will try our best.)
Andrew Kim’s only competitive race this year was held in January. He finished second in the elite category of the National Age Group Triathlon held in Subic Bay.
The Japan race features the standard distances of 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-km bike, and 10-km run.
“I’m 65 to 80 percent ready for this race. This will be a tough race compared to others, especially since we didn’t have the needed training facility. It’s also cold there. But I’m confident because even if we were having a tough time, our training didn’t stop,” Andrew Kim said.
According to Roland, he and his son will fly to Hatsukaichi, Japan, along with the Philippine team on April 21, 2021.
Roland is hoping that the Olympics will add more countries for its triathlon event by choosing the top performing triathletes in the Japan race via wild card slots.
“Kung point system basehan, mag lisud si Kim kay kani pa man iyang na apilan nga race. Pero hoping kaayo mi nga magpasulod sila ug lain nga country nga wala pa maka apil ug Olympics,” Roland told CDN Digital.
(If it’s based on points system, Kim will have a tough time qualifying because this is so far his only qualifying race that he joined. But we’re hoping that they will let other countries who haven’t competed in the Olympics join [via wild card slots].)
Andrew Kim is a Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) silver medalist for triathlon in 2019.
Read: It’s official: Andrew Kim Remolino is part of PH team roster for Southeast Asian Games
/bmjo