Military frontliner Claire Adorna can't wait to get back to triathlon

One year after her SEA Games win, she looks back on her beginnings in the sport
Dec 3, 2020

IT'S been exactly a year since Team Philippines opened up its SEA Games gold rush in a spectacular fashion with multiple first place spots at the triathlon finish lines. In mixed relay, it was Claire Adorna, alongside teammates Kim Mangrobang, Jose Casares, and Rambo Chicano, who brought home the glorious gold.

Up to this day — after long months of pause from any physical training due to the pandemic — this win still keeps the fire ablaze inside Adorna, along with hopes of achieving more.

"Mas nakaka-motivate 'yung panalo namin lalo na for SEA Games next year. Hopefully, we still get to bring medals to our country. It pushes me din to get better lalo na during the pandemic 'cause I really miss the races, it's a big adjustment this year talaga," she told SPIN Life.

The 27-year-old triathlete also revealed that by the first quarter of 2021, they're looking into training overseas to get better and prepare for the SEA Games qualifiers.

"This coming January, I'm planning to train in Austra, join races and tournaments abroad na din to see what needs to be improved to get ready for the SEA Games," she said.

When she was first getting into multisport, the two-time gold medalist admitted that she endured a literal heartbreak just to get better in the sport.

"I started triathlon kasi with the help of my ex-boyfriend. I was a swimmer 'nun, so hindi ko maintindihan how much time it takes for triathletes to train and I wanted to know. So, he decided to give me a bike, tas eventually we broke up, and that [became] my motivation to start and push through with the sport," she shared.

The following year, she fought through injury to claim the country's first triathlon gold in 2015 SEA Games in Singapore.

"Through triathlon, I was able to know myself and my body more. I was able to learn and meet different people, and it was the same fuel until now," she said.

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Over the quarantine, while taking a forced break from sports, she continued serving the country as a military frontliner.

It was here, during the pandemic, that she learned to appreciate what she had even more.

"Mas natutunan kong maging disciplined and committed as a person, I try to balance everything. [I'm also] grateful for the organizations that cater athletes kasi they're still supporting us," she said.

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