Filipina triathlete Kira Ellis turned her comeback into gold in Riga, Latvia, clocking 1:05:07 to rule the 2025 European Triathlon Junior Cup – Junior Women’s Division while cherishing the joy of racing again.
Filipina triathlete Kira Ellis gave the Philippines a proud moment after clinching the gold medal in the 2025 European Triathlon Junior Cup – Junior Women’s Division in Riga, Latvia.
Clocking in at 1:05:07, Ellis not only topped the field but also celebrated a personal victory after a difficult stretch in her career.
“Honestly, I was just happy to be back on the start line after not racing for a while,” she said. “This year has been quite tough for me. There were definitely a lot of low moments, but also so many lessons that helped me grow as an athlete.”
Leading up to Riga, Ellis admitted she had doubts about her readiness. With no intense interval sessions in her training and mostly steady runs logged, she and her coaches even debated if she was fit enough to compete. But what she lacked in preparation, she made up for in determination.
“Not long ago, I could only manage the swim and bike before having to stop at T2,” Ellis recalled. “So going into this race knowing I could run pain-free and actually leave T2 was already a huge win.”
That mindset powered her strongest finish yet. Exiting the bike-to-run transition, Ellis found herself with an unexpected gap ahead of her competitors.
What followed was a surprise even to her—a career-best 5km split that carried her all the way to the top.
Beyond the medal, Riga became a reminder of why she races: joy. “Ultimately that bliss is what won this race for me,” she said. “Riga, you truly have my heart. What a race.”
With her victory, the 19-year-old has once again stamped her mark as one of the Philippines’ brightest young endurance athletes, proving that growth often comes from overcoming setbacks—and that sometimes, winning starts with simply finding your way back to the starting line.