A defending, two-time gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Games triathlon, with a goal of being the best high-caliber athlete he can be –Nikko Huelgas is truly an inspiration to many. He is a shining example of how hard work, perseverance, and unwavering faith can go a long way in beating the odds.
As he tells it, Huelgas, who is also Chairman of the National Athlete’s Commission, used to panic before hitting the water. “When I was young, I had swim trauma,” he reveals, “I always had anxiety minutes before gun start during my swimming competition years.”
To overcome it, Huelgas came to the realization that fear is inevitable, and that staying focused on doing well by training hard was the only way forward: “Fear becomes the main reason why we become the best version of ourselves.”
And train well he did, driven by the desire to serve and represent the country as a National Athlete. “I prepare by fixing my schedule, creating a timeline breakdown,” he says, “That way, I can give my full attention to everything—it all starts with the mind—where I become a different person because I have a clear vision of what needs to be done.”
Huelgas has also learned to train smart, utilizing proper warm ups and stretching, meditating in the morning, eating right, and getting at least seven hours of sleep a day. After all, winning a triathlon entails a combination of physical fitness and the mental strength necessary to keep going at any cost.
“You have to enjoy your training sessions and respect your coach. Having a mentor you can work with, who can answer all your questions, is a big help too.”
In addition, having the proper equipment is also crucial, he says. For this, Huelgas can’t live without a proper aerodynamic bike, good suction swim goggles, high responsive run shoes and his TechnoMarine Shark watch—inspired and named after one of the fiercest predators found in our oceans.
A take-off from the iconic Cruise Collection, the Shark with its bold elements of design and color, coupled with a vibrant style and Technomarine’s trademark precision, is a perfect fit to Huelgas’ go-getting personality and active lifestyle: “It is light and versatile, so you can easily move around anywhere. It’s my go to everyday wristwatch, especially when I travel.”
Even with all the hard work he has put in and continues to put in, Huelgas is enjoying every moment, every victory, in his continuing journey: “Aside from being an athlete, I also dream of being a pilot someday.”
TechnoMarine has stores in Robinson’s Galleria, Robinson’s Magnolia, Shangri-La Plaza, SM City Cebu, SM Lanang Premier Davao, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, TriNoma, and Uptown Mall.