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2026 will be a year of growing up for triathlon prodigy Kira Ellis.
If there was one word to describe 2025 for Kira Ellis, it would be “farewell”.
Following a decorated juniors’ career, it was now time for Kira to move forward into the next level of triathlon competitions, an adjustment that comes with higher standards and a steeper learning curve.
“I mean, of course, you always want yourself to be successful and you always want to be stronger, but at the end of the day, I’m very proud of what I achieved. I want to achieve this, this, and this, but it has its own route, and I think the route I took was very meaningful,” Kira told The GAME during a media shoot for Penshoppe’s new activewear line, Penshoppe Play.
“And you know? I‘m sad to kiss my junior [years] goodbye, but I think I went out this year, my last year [as a junior] really well. And I’m just proud of myself…but again, that’s just juniors, and it only goes up from here.”
With 2025 serving as a farewell tour, Kira made the most out of her final year as a junior triathlete. Despite starting the season late, the 19-year-old started her season on the right foot, winning a gold medal in the 2025 European Triathlon Junior Cup last August — a strong return after taking time off to recover from shin splints.
“Coming from an injury, I think just having that comeback was more of giving self-reassurance, like, ‘Okay, you still have it’. So that was a really meaningful moment,” Kira reflected.
In December, the 19-year-old took part in her second Southeast Asian Games, where she earned two golds and three silvers for the Philippines. Highlighting this medal haul is Kira’s silver in the women’s individual triathlon, where she finished on the podium despite a bout with food poisoning.
More than the medals, Kira said, her second SEA Games was also a reflection of her growth as an athlete. From entering Cambodia as a rookie in 2023, Kira knew that she already had a target on her back when she entered the biennial meet in December.
“With my first SEA Games, I was the youngest participant and I was decent enough just to help the team. But here, I was really happy to come in as someone to be reckoned with, kind of scare others. Not in a mean way, but more of like, watch out,” Kira said.
“And it’s a compliment. So it’s nice that I see that progress in myself. Because of course, you just want to keep getting better and better.”
Looking back at the year that was, Kira says it was a blessing in disguise to start the 2025 season late, as it spared her from the burnout that comes with constant competition.
“Once the year ended, I was very happy, because starting my year later, it gave me more time mentally just to appreciate everything and really make myself hungry for racing again,” Kira reflected.
“It worked out because the SEA Games was in December; and usually, a lot of athletes, when they start early in the year, they get burnt out towards the end.”
And now, Kira Ellis is headed to the next chapter of her career.
Welcome to the real world
As she gears up for U23 competitions, first up for Kira Ellis is the Asian Championships this March in Hong Kong. Should the stars align, the 19-year-old is also looking at a shot to compete in the World Championship later this year, along with the 20th Asian Games in Japan starting this September.
Though she’s well-aware of the challenge, Kira knows that going out of her comfort zone is needed to grow as an athlete.
“Why would I stay somewhere where I’m comfortable? I always want to push myself more, so I think that this year will do that for me, being in a new field,” Kira reflected.
In joining Under-23 races, Kira will also be exposed to the “standard distance”, a departure from the “sprint distance” that she was used to as a junior. Simply put, it will be double the work for the 19-year-old when she participates in her first set of U23 competitions.
“Sprint distance for context, is 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike, and 5-kilometer run. Standard distance, or Olympic distance…it’s a 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike, and 10-kilometer run,” Kira explained.
Speaking of the Olympics, it will be a matter of taking things in stride for Kira, who is primarily aiming for the 2032 edition in Brisbane, Australia.
“We’re just going to see what happens, we’ll try to get the points up, but I’m not going to put too much pressure on myself because there’s a lot of good athletes. I’m just starting, and as excited as I am, I have to be realistic. So we’ll see, since 2026 and 2027 is the main qualifications [for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics],” Kira said.
“But I really hope for [the 2028] Olympics. That would be such a childhood dream for me, even in my high school book, I put ‘Olympics, Olympics, Olympics!’. So I’m kind of manifesting it and we’ll see.”
If 2025 centered on a farewell, then 2026 will be focused on growing up for Kira Ellis — a fresh start where she looks to prove herself in a league much bigger than what she’s gotten used to.
“2026 is a year for a lot of new things; new coach, new environment, new races to join and a new racing distance. I’m excited and it’s going to be different, but different is good. As long as I see progress in what I’m doing, it’s very exciting.” Kira said.
Knowing the challenges that lie ahead, Kira knows that the work is cut out for her, even after everything she’s proven as a rising triathlon star.
“There’s so much I can still work on; for example, I want to work on my power for the bike, and be a more powerful athlete. I really just want to lead the swim and be up there; and on the run, if I could just send it on the run and perform even better than what I think I could do, that would be very exciting.”
“But I’m happy, because every year, I feel like I’ve learned something new, not only physically, but mentally. And I think that’s a big thing, like also handling pressure is a big thing as well now that everything’s kind of put in the spotlight.”
Images by Enzo Santos.