by Waylon Galvez
Filipino-American triathlete Kim Kilgroe is not resting on her laurels after winning the gold medal in women’s triathlon in the recent Philippine National Games in Cebu City.
The 28-year-old former model is set to compete in the ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup in Taizhou, China, the ASTC in Takamatsu, Japan, the ASTC Southeast Championship in Subic and the ASTC ITU Mt. Mayon.
“I have several ITU Asian Cup races leading up to this year’s Asian Games,” said Kilgroe, who took up triathlon in 2012.
She won the PNG gold medal in impressive fashion as she clocked one hour nine minutes and 56 seconds, beating Una Sibayan of Muntinlupa City (1:21.56) and Rue Ranibon of host Cebu City (1:23.36).
“I’ve been representing the national team for two years officially as an elite/professional, but racing and representing Philippines as an amateur already for five years (since 2013),” said Kilgroe.
“It makes me feel very proud, not only because I choose to represent the Philippines… but because I pray that it inspires more beyond me to get involved in sport for the first time and for local youth to aspire to the national team as well,” added Kilgroe.
In the coming Asian Games, Kilgroe said that not only Japan, which won all three gold medals in the women’s division in 2014 Incheon Games, is the team to beat but nearly all participating nations.