
This is Part 3 of Manami Iijima-Martin’s journey to earn a spot in the London Olympic Games.
By Manami Iijima-Martin
I’ve been meaning update you on my journey so far since the Pacific Mini Games, and I am finally getting to it.
2022 was a huge year:
– 2nd place: Challenge Korea
– 3 gold medals: Pacific Mini Games (Saipan) in Triathlon, Aquathlon, Half Marathon
– 15th place: Americas Triathlon Cup Santa Marta, Colombia
– 43rd place: World Triathlon Cup Miyazaki, Japan
– DNF: World Triathlon Cup Vina Del Mar, Chile
– 5th place: Asia Triathlon Cup Ipoh, Malaysia
– 1st place: 2022 Oceania Triathlon Pacific Island Championship Nadi, Fiji
First off, I want to thank my sponsors, family and friends, and supporters from Guam and internationally. I would not have done it without you. I’ve had countless times where I depended on training partners to get me out the door, friends and family who’ve advised but also openly listened to me on tough days and celebrated the highs like it was theirs. Biggest gratitude to my husband who takes care of our three fur babies while I’m gone and keeps me happy every day.
After PMG, I committed to racing short course draft legal racing in hopes to gain points to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It is different to the type of racing I’ve been doing the past five years. Instead of racing for 4+ hours and managing my effort at long course events, the races now end in 1-2 hours, and you race with people constantly pushing you by your side.
It has been a steep learning curve, as you can see from my results. At the first three international events from Colombia to Chile, I had gained no points despite finishing and had constant mishaps happening. I lost my bike shoe during transitions from swim to bike, intolerable menstrual pains, swimming poorly and losing the bike group, and learning to deal with travel fatigue.
I took a step back after every race to digest what went well and what didn’t so I could practice during training in hopes that the next race would be better. I practiced getting on and off my bike more than 100 times, mentally visualized race scenarios, reached out to other elite athletes, and remembered why I’m committing to triathlon. I also tried to relax and enjoy the journey. Thankfully, results quickly showed with a 5th place finish in Malaysia where I was able to obtain some points and even beat girls who were miles ahead of me at the previous races and closed the gap. I took a short break after this race to spend time with family in Japan, whom I haven’t seen since pre pandemic, then set off to Fiji for a training camp and a race. I ended up with a successful win to end a great first season.
After not being home much since October, I’m unwinding and enjoying extra time with the pups, Jon and friends. Unwinding may not really be true; I’ve been training a bunch. I’ve managed to sneak in a three hour training day on Christmas. Glad that Jon rides because we can spend it smashing each other on the bike. The Oceania Triathlon season starts in February, so I am off to a training camp with the Philippine National Triathlon Team.
Thank you for following my journey. I’m on Instagram @manamitris if you would like to see more day to day content! Happy holidays 🙂
PART 1: Starting the Journey
PART 2: Triple Gold in Saipan


GPS Sports Calendar
February 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
6th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
11th
Events for February
13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
18th
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
19th
SPRINT TRIATHLON, PACIFIC GAMES QUALIFIER
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
24th
Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

Basketball
FRIARS TAKE DOWN PANTHERS 74-68

Running/Track
’23 TRACK SEASON OPENS

Basketball
TAKUMI SIMON MAKING THE BEST OF PRO LIFE

Volleyball
H.S. BEACH VOLLEYBALL IN FULL SWING
COMING SOON …
- 3rd Quarter Sports