IRONKIDS in Lapu-Lapu: Record number of young triathletes in

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The RLC Residences IRONKIDS will make history on Saturday, August 8, as it welcomes a record 679 participants, the largest field since the youth event became part of the IRONMAN 70.3 Lapu-Lapu and Cebu festivities in 2012.

The race, which will be held at the Beachfront of Dusit Thani Mactan, eclipses last year’s record of 600 entries and highlights the growing popularity of triathlon among young Filipinos.

Sunrise Events, Inc. president and IRONMAN Philippines general manager Princess Galura said the steady rise in participation reflects the success of the IRONKIDS program in introducing children to the sport over the past decade.

“This event has introduced many kids to multisport, and some of them have gone on to race in the adult divisions,” said Galura.

“This is the biggest number of IRONKIDS participants across all Sunrise races.”

Pre-Ironman event

Traditionally staged ahead of the IRONMAN 70.3 race, IRONKIDS officially kicks off the race weekend before more than 1,400 triathletes from 48 countries take on Sunday’s 1.9-kilometer swim, 90-kilometer bike, and 21.1-kilometer run.

This year’s youth competition features athletes aged 6 to 15 competing in aquathlon and run-only categories. Participants are grouped into the 6-8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-15 age divisions, with relay events also available for the 6-10 and 11-15 brackets.

The youngest competitors in the aquathlon will tackle a 100-meter swim followed by a one-kilometer run, while the oldest participants will complete a 250-meter swim and a two-kilometer run. The run-only category covers one kilometer for the younger age group and two kilometers for the older division.

Participation has steadily increased throughout the 2026 season, with more than 200 young athletes joining the Palawan leg and around 350 taking part in Subic Bay before the series arrived in Cebu. Organizers said the program continues to encourage children to embrace an active lifestyle through multisport competition.

Adding another milestone to this year’s edition is the participation of 65 young athletes from the Sidlak Bagani Program, a grassroots initiative of the Lapu-Lapu City Government and IRONMAN Philippines. After completing a month-long training camp under IRONMAN coaches, the aspiring triathletes will make their competitive debut as organizers hope the program will help identify and develop the country’s next generation of triathlon talents.

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