
In her first segment of her journal, pro triathlete and former GSPN Athlete of the Year Manami Iijima-Martin shares her first-person point of view on her quest to qualify for the 2024 OIympic Games.
So I officially qualified for a spot on Team Guam to try to make it to the 2024 Olympics.
It’s been a crazy journey getting here.
Step 1: Changed my citizenship.
I’ve lived on Guam since 1997 when I was 5, married the sweetest (😂) local guy, and call Guam my home. I swam and represented my island in the 2005 Arafura Games, 2005 Mini SPG, and 2006 Micro Games, until residency requirements changed. At age 12 and 13, I didn’t understand why I wasn’t able to go race again for Guam, and I was frustrated since no one explained the reasoning to me. I was the fastest swimmer on island (back then). Well, now I know and I have my U.S. citizenship. Check.
Step 2: Qualified for Team Guam.
On March 13, 2022, GTF’s sprint triathlon, I came in at 1:06:10. The qualifying time was 1:06:30 – beat it by 20 seconds! I didn’t have the race I wanted, but was relieved to come under their standard time. I swam hard solo, biked solo and ran solo. I felt flat on the bike and the run was not that great either. Training has been going well leading up to it, so I don’t know what happened. Could be a combination of fatigue, under fueling, or the pressure I put on myself to perform. Again, relief. Check.
Step 3: Keep training and progressing.
Triathlon, like any other sport, takes consistency over a long period of time to get good. Most times, it’s difficult to get to a high level. Most don’t make it. Although, I could be fast on Guam, I am still back of the middle pack with the pros. So in order to climb the ladder, I need to train day in and day out, focus on recovery and nutrition, keep mentally sharp, and stay injury free. I hope I make it…
Step 4: Collection of points.
The first qualification period for triathlon starts on May 27, up until March 26, 2023. Then the final period is May 27, 2023 to May 27, 2024. Within this period, I need to collect points, be within the top 140 in the ranking, could get a place using the new flag rule. It all depends on points and placings.
I know I still have a lot of work to do with limited time. Two years is not that much to get faster and collect points. The physical, psychological and financial limitations are apparent, but I’m hoping with hard work and from the support of my sponsors, friends, family, our island, we can make it there. I hope to be the first triathlete from Guam to make it to the Olympics.
For now I am working on Step 3, and training in Saipan for 18 days. Head down and focused.
Thank you for reading.


Foody’s Fun Facts
Foody’s Fun Facts with Makayla Atoigue
ND Royals Rugby Player Makayla Atoigue lays down her Foody’s Fun Facts and shares her dream vacation spot
GPS Sports Calendar
May 2022
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
- SU
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 1
Events for May
2nd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET #4
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
3rd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
5th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
6th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
7th
GPD HOT PURSUIT 5K
MARIANAS OPEN
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for May
9th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET #5
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER All-Star Meeting
IIAAG GIRLS BEACH VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL FINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
10th
Events for May
12th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL ALL-ISLAND MEETING
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
12th
Events for May
14th
14th JUDICA CRABAO 5K
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
Events for May
16th
ISA TRACK & FIELD ALL-ISLAND MEET
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE All-Star Meeting
Events for May
17th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
18th
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG GIRLS MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Events for May
19th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
20th
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL All-Star Meeting
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
21st
Pre-Memorial Day 13-Miler
GETTING GUAM HEALTHY 5K BUBBLE RUN/HEALTH FAIR
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD All-ISLAND MEET
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE FINALS
ALPHA WARRIOR ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE FINALS
2022 Guam Track & Field National Championships
Events for May
21st
Events for May
23rd
Events for May
24th
Events for May
26th
Events for May
27th
Events for May
28th
- 30
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Events for May
29th
Events for May
30th

Volleyball
TITANS DON’T DROP A SET ALL SEASON

Running/Track
PANTHERS SWEEP ALL-ISLAND TRACK & FIELD MEET

Baseball
FALCONS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE IN GML

Volleyball
BIG MAN KEITH WINS IIAAG MVP

Running/Track
PANTHERS SWEEP ALL-ISLAND TRACK & FIELD MEET
Foody’s Fun Facts
Foody’s Fun Facts with Makayla Atoigue
ND Royals Rugby Player Makayla Atoigue lays down her Foody’s Fun Facts and shares her dream vacation spot
Foody’s Fun Facts
Foody’s Fun Facts with Makayla Atoigue
ND Royals Rugby Player Makayla Atoigue lays down her Foody’s Fun Facts and shares her dream vacation spot
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG & ISA Championships
- YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE KICKOFF June 4
- GSPN Boys Volleyball All-Star Game
- Pacific Mini-Games in Saipan