After making his debut in the Asian Youth Games, promising triathlete Peter Sancho del Rosario is now keenly eyeing a podium finish in the Asia Triathlon Under-15 and Youth Championships scheduled for Dec. 5 to 6 in the coastal city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

His excelling in the meet was a priority because it serves as a part of the qualifying process for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, according to his father Rienzi del Rosario.

In his maiden appearance in the meet in October last year in Hong Kong, Del Rosario, who was 15 years old then, finished eighth overall out of a field of 43 Asian entries and was the best Filipino bet among seven, clocking 33 minutes and 19 seconds in the swim-bike-run event.

Supported by leading global running wear HOKA, the result was a solid follow-up to placing sixth in the Asia Triathlon Junior Cup in July the same year in Kampar, Malaysia, winding up the best PH triathlete anew in a field of 48th entries in a time of 33:16.

The 11-12 Ironkids overall champion held in 2022 in Mactan, Cebu, and 13-14 Ironkids overall champion held in Vermosa and Subic in 2023, Del Rosario was included int the national triathlon developmental team in 2024.

In 2025, the triathlete, who turned 16 last September, became the youngest member of the national triathlon team as one its junior elite athletes.

Del Rosario, a Fil-am whose father is an industrial engineer and biologist Fil-Am mom, revealed that he is deep in training for his international competition next month.

“We are following a program provided by a foreign coach and is supervised by our national coaches. The preparation and training covers the appropriate loading for each discipline of swim, bike, and run plus a nutrition plan depending on our individual needs,” he explained.

Del Rosario disclosed that he began his athletic career as a swimmer a seven years old under noted coach Angelo Lozada before gradually gravitating towards triathlon, inspired by his triathlete and cyclist--father Rienzi.

“I could say that seeing my dad’s trophies at home on a shelf and write ups in publications from his stint as a triathlete, a cyclist, and an endurance runner/adventure racer during his “active days” partly inspired me to do and pursue multisport,” he said.

The up and coming triathlete stressed that having a strong support group was vital in becoming an elite performer in the gruelling sport.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another,” said Del Rosario, quoting a famous maxim,.

He is handled by celebrated mentor-coach Ani de Leon-Brown, who looks after four-time Southeast Asian Games women’s triathlon gold medalist Kim Mangrobang and two-time Southeast Asian Games men’s triathlon gold medalist Fer Casares .

“Coaches are crucial in someone’s development. My head coach Ani de Leon-Brown (High-Performance) and Youth/Junior coaches Doray Ellis and Kevin Eijansantos play a huge role in my development as an athlete,” he added.

Del Rosario pointed out that this was where “our HOKA family plays a vital role in my journey as a multisport athlete. The community is amazing like the HOKA Run Club, the HOKA executives, and the organized events. Together we are, indeed, a family.”

He was grateful for the running shoes and gear provided by the outfit in training and competitions.

“The shoes and gear are amazing! It really raised the bar in terms of performance during training and racing. Technically sound, fast and fashionably cool!” the triathlete exclaimed.

While competing, he said, “the HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 is my go-to weapon of choice for racing. It is a must for speed and ultra responsive, very light, and the traction is superb!”

On the other hand, Del Rosario said that for walking and recovery dynamics, he prefers the “HOKA Clifton 10 because the cushioning is awesome, very comfortable and stable.”