Remolino with rare chance to bag SEA Games’ first gold

Cebuano triathlete Andrew Kim Remolino has the chance to achieve something truly rare in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

From among the 8,544 athletes from 11 countries, the 19-year-old from Talisay can earn the distinction of striking the first gold medal in these Games.

“Honestly, I don’t want to think about it. It certainly adds to the pressure,’’ said Remolino in Filipino. “I just train hard and hopefully show up in my best condition on race day.’’

Men’s triathlon will dangle the first of 530 gold medals in 56 sports that the Games will stage, with the event to be flagged off on Dec. 1 at Subic Bay Boardwalk.

“I think I’m ready, physically and mentally,’’ said Remolino, ranked first among Filipino triathletes in the pool and the consensus man to beat in his event.

The pressure will be twice as much since the Philippines will defend the triathlon gold after Nikko Huelgas captured reigned for two consecutive Games in 2015 in Singapore and 2017 in Kuala Lumpur. Remolino, the junior national champion a year before climbing to the elite ranks this year, will have KL silver medalist John Chicano as partner in the country’s bid for another 1-2 finish.

“I’ll just focus and hope nothing bad will happen during the race,’’ said Remolino, a two-time Siklab Sports Youth Awardee for triathlon. Remolino took over the spot of Huelgas in the men’s race after becoming the first Filipino elite to cross the finish line in the 2019 Gyeongju ASTC Asian Triathlon Championships in Korea three months ago.