Children's triathlon competition in Lapu-Lapu, Philippines: Da Silva and Perez take the lead
Ironkids Philippines Triathlon in Cebu Celebrates Growing Success
The 2025 RLC Ironkids Philippines triathlon event, held at Dusit Thani Mactan, marked a significant milestone with its largest participation in history. Hundreds of children from across the Philippines, including Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, took part in the annual event, which has grown from humble beginnings to a prominent fixture on Cebu's sporting calendar.
The Ironkids Philippines triathlon is an essential part of the IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines race series, offering a junior triathlon leg for children aged 6 to 15. This year's event saw the participation of 600 young athletes, more than double the 247 participants from 2024.
The girls' 13-15 division was won by Christy Ann Perez, who also claimed the title in the 2024 race. Perez completed the swim leg in 3 minutes and 54.88 seconds, followed by the run in 7 minutes and 38.99 seconds, and finished the race in 11 minutes and 36 seconds. Notably, Perez is a repeat champion, having won the same race in 2024, held at The Reef Island Resort in Mactan, Cebu.
Zackary Angelo Da Silva emerged victorious in the boys' 13-15 division. Da Silva, who also won the April 2024 Ironkids Lapu-Lapu race, completed the swim leg in 2 minutes and 38 seconds, the run in 6 minutes and 52 seconds, and finished the race in 10 minutes and 24 seconds.
The IronKids Philippines is the local version of the global IronKids program, part of the Ironman triathlon brand. The programme aims to develop young athletes through early exposure to multisport disciplines, instilling values like perseverance, sportsmanship, and teamwork. The Ironkids race has become an anticipated pre-race event that complements and helps sustain the IRONMAN 70.3 race's prominence in Cebu’s sporting calendar.
The Ironkids race in Cebu has evolved from grassroots efforts to a large-scale annual event integrated into the prestigious IRONMAN race weekend. It started with a small Junior Triathlon Team supported by partners like RLC Residences, initially with just eight athletes. The program expanded to 20 junior triathletes from various regions by 2025, demonstrating growing enthusiasm for junior triathlon.
The top five finishers in the girls' 13-15 division were Perez, Mary Chris Lalimos (13:07), Zoryalena Uphill (13:22), and Kaia Chrostiana Gica (12:11). The Ironkids race continues to foster the next generation of Filipino triathletes, with growing national participation and support from community partners.
References: 1. IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines 2. IRONKIDS Philippines 3. IRONKIDS Philippines: Building the Future of Triathlon 4. IRONKIDS Philippines: A Platform for Young Athletes 5. IRONKIDS Philippines: Growing in Popularity
The Ironkids Philippines triathlon, a significant part of the IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines race series, attracted a record-breaking number of young athletes from different regions in the Philippines, such as Cebu in Visayas, for its annual event held in 2025. The growing popularity of the Ironkids triathlon has transformed it into a highly anticipated event on Cebu's sporting calendar, nurturing the next generation of Filipino triathletes.
