Despite battling food poisoning, Philippine triathletes Kira Ellis and Kim Remolino pushed through to claim silver in their individual events, with Fernando Jose Casares bagged bronze at the 2025 SEA Games.
Kira Ellis didn’t just race against the field in the women’s individual triathlon at the 33rd SEA Games—she also raced against her own body.
The 19-year-old Filipino triathlete revealed she was hospitalized after falling ill following the team relay events, leaving her with limited time to recover ahead of the individual race.
Yet when it mattered most, she still found a way to stand on the podium.
Despite the health scare, Ellis bagged silver to add another chapter to what has been a breakout 2025 SEA Games campaign in Thailand.
She finished with a time of 01:01:03, while Indonesia’s Martina Ayu Pratiwi claimed gold in 01:00:11. Singapore’s Herlene Natasha Yu Zhihui rounded out the podium with 01:02:41.
Ellis and Ayu were virtually even through the swim, bike and even on both T1 and T2 transitions, but Ayu edged ahead during the run, covering the final leg 45 seconds faster than the Philippine triathlete.
“It was a crazy lead-up to the individual race,” Ellis shared in a post-race interview. “I got food poisoned after the triathlon relays and I was at the hospital that night. We were supposed to be resting in between the days before this."
Grit and Grind
The illness also struck close to home, as teammate Raven Alcoseba was forced to miss the individual event after suffering the same fate.
“I was lucky I got it earlier and had a day to rest,” Ellis said. “She got it the night before, and it was really unfortunate. She should be here more than me—she’s our strongest athlete. I’m really heartbroken that we couldn’t race together because I know we could’ve done it side by side.”
Already proven on the international stage—most recently winning the Europe Triathlon Junior Cup in Riga, Latvia—Ellis admitted the illness took a physical toll, but it never broke her focus.
[ALSO READ: Pinay triathlete Kira Ellis reflects after golden run in European Triathlon Junior Cup]
“It did affect my energy, but the training was there,” she bared. “Despite everything, you just have to block it out and give your best.”
Haul of a Winner
The silver medal capped a demanding schedule that saw Ellis compete in five events at the Games, walking away with an impressive haul: two golds in the women’s and mixed team triathlon, plus silvers in the mixed team aquathlon, the all-women relay, and the individual race.
[ALSO READ: SEA Games: Philippines goes three-for-three in triathlon relay]
By the time she crossed the finish line, the result felt bigger than any medal.
“I’m happy. I raced in five events, and I couldn’t be prouder of my teammates. Everyone came here and gave their best,” Ellis said.
No excuses
In the men’s individual event, the Philippines celebrated a strong showing as Kim Remolino and Fernando Jose Casares claimed silver and bronze, respectively.
But it was Rashif Amila Yaqin of Indonesia who stole the spotlight, clocking a winning time of 54:37 to dethrone Casares, who had taken gold in the same event at the 2023 edition in Cambodia.
Remolino — much like Ellis — had to battle through the lingering effects of food poisoning and went head-to-head with Yaqin throughout the race.
The Filipino triathlete matched Yaqin with a 28:31 bike split, but the Indonesian pulled ahead in the swim and run to keep the gold out of reach.
In the end, he crossed the finish line at 55:03, while teammate Fernando Jose Casares settled for 56:56.
“It’s really a surprise win for me since the last few days, talagang tagilid kami. May iba talaga nagkasakit, especially kami na nasa individual. Talagang it’s a challenge just to go to the starting line. Kung hindi naman kami magmedal, is just to have put up a great fight and put ourselves in the winning position,” Remolino said.
He added: “I was surprised na nakikita ko ‘yung Indonesian guy during the start. When I saw him, dumikit na ko talaga and hindi ko na binitawan. I was happy I got the silver despite all the challenges.”
(With reports from AJ Bolando/Cignal)
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues