More than a crown: Faith Garcia conquers triathlon and beyond

MANILA, Philippines – It’s rare to find beauty, intelligence and physical prowess in one person, but Faith Garcia embodies all three. Her transition from the pageant stage to the grueling world of triathlons may have surprised some, but not those who know her well. The former Ms. Aura International has always been driven by a competitive spirit.

“I was a swimmer in college, and after graduating, I missed the adrenaline rush of competing. That’s when I started considering triathlons,” Garcia explains when asked what inspired a beauty queen like her to dive into endurance sports.

But her path seems almost fated, as the 30-year-old is now thriving in the sport.

Garcia’s first taste of triathlon came after she won Ms. Silka Philippines in 2013. “The owner of Silka was a triathlete, and eventually, I signed up for my first triathlon. I trained for just three weeks before my first event,” she reveals.

But triathlons are just one aspect of her dynamic life. Garcia is also a successful entrepreneur, running her own food and drink business, Sip & Chow Food Express.

The Olongapo City native's journey into triathlons began in earnest in December 2014, when she participated in a sprint-format triathlon in the Yellow Cab Triathlon. This marked the start of a challenging but rewarding athletic pursuit. By March 2015, she competed in the Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 in Subic, not just as a participant but also to support her team.

“I usually participate in 21k runs and don’t often join shorter fun runs. The Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 in March 2015 was my second race and first long-distance event. I was part of the Century TriHard Triathlon team, and with three months of intense training, my teammates encouraged me to believe I could finish it,” she shares.

Their faith in her was well-placed, and since then, Garcia has completed five 70.3 IRONMAN races. Her best performance came in Vietnam in May 2024, where she clocked in at 5:32:22 despite a shortened swim due to rough waters.

“The race was both challenging and rewarding, and it motivated me to continue training and competing,” Garcia says, reflecting on her achievements. Her preferred race distance is the standard triathlon,