The Philippine Paratriathlon Committee (PPTC) has announced the formation of the national paratriathlon training team, initially composed of three athletes.
The athletes are 17-year-old twins Jerome and Joshua Nelmida, both visually impaired, and Cebuano Alex Silverio, who lost his left arm in accident years ago.
The Nelmidas have competed in various aquathlon and triathlon races the past years including the ASTC Asian Paratriathlon Championship in 2015 and 2017 held in Subic.
Silverio, on the other hand, is aiming to be the first Filipino paratriathlete to qualify in the Paralympics in 2020. He enjoys strong support from the Cebuano triathlon community including Parklane International Hotel.
The coaching staff is headed by Anthony Lozada, certified Level 2 coach under both the International Triathlon Union ( ITU ) and the World Swimming Coaches Association. Joining him as assistant coach is Cebu-based Bobby Martinez.
“We are looking at the Asian Paratriathlon Championship set this August in Legaspi, Albay as our center piece event that will also serve as a qualifying event for the national team, even as we are working on the inclusion of paratriathlon in the 2019 ASEAN ParaGames, for the national team,” said PPTC chairman Lito Cinco. “We are coordinating with the Philippine Marines and the Philippine Air Force as possible sources of prospective paratriathletes.”
TRAP president Tom Carrasco said: “We will look at younger athletes with the needed determination, attitude, and commitment to the sport in terms of training. We have seen this in the Nelmida twins while Silverio has been doing well in the races he has joined.”
“TRAP will work with his support team based in Cebu. We have requested the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for the initial funds to cover the training, uniforms, and equipment for the national paratriathlon training team, at the same time that we will be sending a Filipino official for a classifiers’ course under ITU in the future,” Carrasco added.