Emilio Aguayo

EMILIO AGUAYO

Get to know the story behind the athlete in our interview series with the newest members of the HOKA family.

Triathlon is literally a labour of love for HOKA professional triathlete Emilio Aguayo. Alongside his elite ambitions, the 30-year-old from Valencia, Spain runs a triathlon coaching business that caters to the needs of triathletes of all shapes, sizes, and abilities. His wife and fellow triathlete, Natalia, is also an online personal trainer. “I train people online, and Natalia and I train a team, CDM Avant Moncada, with more than 200 triathletes” says Emilio. “I was a university teacher for three years before that, but I never loved that job like I love coaching people, whether professional or amateur.

“I can’t imagine my life without sport. It’s been part of my life since I was three or four years old.” With his own training, coaching and a young bundle of energy, son Balú, who is nearly two, to keep him busy, Emilio is not one for leaving the cosy surroundings of his family, except for races. “My family is my greatest strength,” he smiles, “and Balú is my greatest achievement, even if he is a little monkey! “Being with my family is the best way to switch off from the pressures of training and competing. We live near the sea in Valencia so we like to walk on the beach and have fun to switch off.”

“My father told me one time that nobody was going to give me anything for free,” he says, “and if I want something, I will have to work for it.”

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A long and successful career has seen Emilio move through the distances from sprint and Olympic to Ironman. He sealed his place in the IRONMAN® World Championships in St George, Utah next May – switched from its usual location in Kona due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic – with his first win over the long-distance in Wisconsin in 2019. It was a race not without its challenges. “My father told me one time that nobody was going to give me anything for free,” he says, “and if I want something, I will have to work for it.” In Wisconsin, Emilio certainly had to work for it. “I had three punctures on the bike that I had to deal with and try not to drop out of the race. That left me with a 12-minute deficit at the start of the run leg. I had to run a personal best for the half marathon within the marathon to win first place.”

EMILIO AGUAYO WEARS

Rocket X

Overcoming challenges in general is part and parcel of a triathlete’s lot and Emilio has had his fair share, particularly when it comes to injuries. “I think injuries are the biggest challenge for any triathlete,” he agrees. “I had two major ones and it took all my energy to get through them. “In fact, the first time I tried HOKA was in 2017 when I had my first experience with the Clifton after a long injury. It was my salvation after five long months off the road.” No matter where his travels take him around the world, whether it’s Kona or Utah, or anywhere else, Emilio will be back in Valencia as soon as he can to be with Natalia and Balú. “I love what I do as a professional athlete,” he concludes, “but if I were an amateur, I would still do the sport. Here, I have time to fly. I can train, run, and forget all about stress, just live and be free. There’s no place like home!”

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