SEAG sidelights: Triathlon chief gets bragging rights

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Before the 2015 Southeast Asian Games in Singapore, triathlon chief Tom Carrasco was asked to predict how many gold medals his team of four triathletes – two women and two men – would win in the Singapore SEA Games where only two golds were at stake.

“Two golds, two silvers,” said Carrasco, with an air of confidence, referring to a 100 percent performance in triathlon, a rarity for any sport.

Claire Adorna, a former age group swimmer, won the gold, with Kim Mangrobang at second.

He was confident the tandem of Nikko Huelgas and Jonard Saim would do a similar 1-2 finish in the men’s individual event where Saim was leading after the swim phase, with Huelgas not too far behind.

Officials said Saim, who was ahead in the first leg, was slowing down to feed himself when his provisions – a banana and power gel – fell off his bike. With nothing to eat in the middle of the race, he lost steam and finished sixth.

“I have always expected us to sweep the triathlon until the unfortunate incident happened,” said Carrasco, whose ego was deflated.

After that, he lost his bragging rights despite the gold medal sweep.

“Last night, I couldn’t sleep because I feared something might happen again the next morning,” he said.

“We will win the gold but I cannot predict a sweep,” he said.This time, the male bets – Huelgas and John “Rambo” Chicano – performed true to form for a 1-2 finish.

Unknown to many, defending champion Claire Adorna hurt her hip during training in Phuket, Thailand last month and the slight injury continued to bother her three weeks into the SEA Games. 

Physical therapist Niko Sanchez did pre-conditioning rehab at least for the SEA Games and it looked like Adorna, who is at her best in the swim phase, would make it after she led in the swim phase and rode as one with Kim Mangrobang in the bike race, way ahead of the opposition.

However, the injury, a left calf strain, slowed her down in the 10K run, and Mangrobang pushed forward to ensure the gold for the Philippines.

“I don’t like to brag,” Carrasco said after the race. “I can’t talk,” he said.