FIT & FAMOUS
RUNNING SUPLADO WRITES
JARED BALIGUAT
Wacky Baniqued:
Rising To The Top
Two weeks after his second place finish at the Singapore International Triathlon Mini-Sprint distance,
Wacky Baniqued was seen racing at the Alaska Ironkids Triathlon Cebu on August 6, 2016, which
was also the side event of Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific.
Photo credit: Jamil Buergo (www.facebook.com/jamilbuergosportsphotographer)
T
riathlon as a sport requires more than the
training and endurance. It also requires a strong
will and positive mind just to simply cross the finish
line, or even make it to the podium. Whilst most kids
his age played the traditional games such as patintero,
tumbang preso, luksong baka, amongst other games,
Juan Franciso Bondad Baniqued, or Wacky, spent his
playing time in the pool or with his bike.
outstanding athlete in swimming at Colegio de San
Agustin - Binan, Wacky was a natural swimmer. He
came out of the water first in his age group, but was
then overtaken by other participants riding in their
expensive triathlon bikes. Despite the lack of better
gear a not-so-good result in his first race, Wacky did
not give up.
With a promising passion for multisport, his dad
Wacky Baniqued joined triathlon when he was Egay bought him a mini racing bike. A year later, he
6 years old at the Triathlon Association of the joined the Alaska Ironkids Aquathlon and placed
Philippines’ (TRAP) Super Trikids, with his cloned third in the 6 to 8 year old group, his first taste of a
mini-mountain bike in tow. Awarded as the most podium finish. In 2011, Wacky went on winning in
24
BOD Fitness Lifestyle Magazine