At Her Own Pace
A multi-medalist at the 33rd SEA Games, Kira Ellis is already establishing herself as one of Philippine sport’s brightest young athletes. Beyond the podium, her story is shaped by patience, discipline, and a lightness that carries her through the long distance.
Kira Ellis laughs easily.
It comes out mid-thought, mid-story, sometimes mid-sentence. There is a lightness to her that feels almost out of place for someone whose sport revolves around discomfort, exhaustion, and relentless repetition. But that contrast is exactly what defines her.
At just 19, Kira is already navigating a sport that asks for patience most athletes her age haven’t yet learned. Triathlon doesn’t reward shortcuts. It doesn’t care about hype. And it doesn’t peak early.
“Typically, the age range that we would peak is around the late twenties and thirties,” she explains. “That’s when your body is most developed. Stacking on too young is very prone to injuries.”
It’s a measured answer, the kind that reveals how seriously she thinks about longevity. But she delivers it with a smile, casually, as if talking about something obvious.
That balance, seriousness without heaviness, shows up everywhere in how she moves through the sport.
Built for Consistency
Triathlon doesn’t allow dramatic swings in effort. Kira knows that well.
“It’s not a sport where you train hard one day and then slack off for seven more days,” she says. “You’d rather be okay every single day, and it’ll make a bigger difference.”
Her days are packed. Three disciplines, long hours, constant recovery. Yet she talks about discipline not as sacrifice, but as rhythm. Consistency, to her, isn’t restrictive. It’s stabilizing.
That mindset becomes especially important when expectations rise.
During high-stakes races, pressure doesn’t come from one moment. It stretches across the entire event. And when things don’t go perfectly, Kira leans into calm rather than panic.
“There’s no point,” she says simply. “It already happened. I just focused on what I could do.”
It’s a practical response. Very triathlon. Very Kira.
Filipino at Home, Wherever That Is
Kira is open about her mixed background. Her father is British, her first language English. But the culture she grew up in is unmistakably Filipino.
“It’s very mixed,” she says of her household. “But me, my mom, and my sister, we all grew up here.”
That influence shows up in small, familiar ways. Filipino humor. Movie nights in December. Inside jokes that don’t need explaining.
“Filipino humor is very different,” she laughs. “You see it on TV. We always watch Filipino movies. I love Vice Ganda!”
Her Tagalog may not be fluent. “I’ll stick to Taglish for now,” she jokes. But the connection runs deeper than language.
Food, especially, is non-negotiable.
“Sinigang,” she says immediately. “People don’t like it because it’s sour, but it’s my favorite.” And when it comes to comfort, she doesn’t hesitate. “Taho. I love taho.”
It’s the kind of answer that comes without thought. Instinctive, familiar, rooted.
Light Moments Between Long Days
Outside training, Kira keeps things simple.
Her sport doesn’t leave much room for excess, so rest becomes a priority. “I try to sleep during the day if I can,” she says, laughing.
When energy allows, she turns to drawing. Not seriously, not professionally, just for herself. “I’m not good at it at all,” she admits. “I just enjoy it.”
That honesty, unpolished and unpretentious, is part of her charm. There’s no pressure to perform outside the race. No need to impress.
Even her relationship with fashion reflects that mindset. “I really just wear sports clothes.” Comfort isn’t a preference. It’s a requirement.
Especially in a country where humidity never lets up. “People wear jeans and hoodies here,” she says, incredulous. “I tried that one time. Oh my gosh. I was baking on the inside.”
She laughs again.
Racing With, Not Away From, People
Despite spending much of the year abroad, Kira remains closely tied to the local triathlon community.
“They’ve been really sweet to me,” she says. “That’s the reason why I’m here today.”
Support, for her, isn’t abstract. It’s loud crowds. Coaches shouting jokes. Familiar faces at local races.
“We have different humor,” she laughs. “The coaches are so funny when they cheer.”
That connection fuels something bigger than personal success.
Triathlon is still developing in the Philippines, and Kira is aware of the responsibility that comes with visibility. “People are like, ‘What’s triathlon?’” she says. “And I love explaining it.”
What excites her most isn’t medals or recognition. It’s growth. “I just want people to love the sport as much as I do.”
Serious Work, Light Spirit
Kira doesn’t separate joy from discipline. They coexist.
She trains hard. She thinks long-term. She understands the demands of her sport better than most people her age. But she also laughs easily, speaks openly, and never loses sight of why she chose this path.
“There’s still time,” she says casually when talking about her biggest goals.
That patience, paired with quiet ambition, may be her greatest strength.
In a sport defined by endurance, Kira Ellis isn’t just built to last.
She’s learned how to enjoy the distance.
Check out and shop PENSHOPPE Play, available now.
IN THIS STORY:
Publisher: James Leonard Cruz • Art Director: Karlota Tuazon • Photographer: Noel Monzon • Interview & Writer: Juan Marco Matriano • Social Media: JC Arnobit • HMUA & Styling : Penshoppe • Special thanks to Penshoppe
