Santiago Ascenço: The Triathlon Legend and Santitreinos' Legacy

Turning Professional and the Leap with Pão de Açúcar

The decision to turn professional in the Troféu Brasil was challenging. Facing legends like Oscar Galindez, Armando Barcelos, and Marcos Orleans, Santi initially "took a beating," realizing the difference in level and the difficulty of competing without proper support. With little money, he relied on bus trips and help from a friend's grandfather for tickets.

The turning point came in the last stage of 1998, where his performance caught the attention of Hélio Takai, an agent for the Pão de Açúcar team. Santiago was invited to join the team as a "rising star," alongside Gisele Bertutti, securing a salary and 10 airline tickets. "Now it's my turn!" he thought, marking a crucial point in his career.

Between 1999 and 2000, Santi balanced his life as an athlete with college, aware of the need for an education. Even while splitting his time, he won the Duathlon World Championship in France for the second time in 2000. In 2002, with more maturity, he dropped out of college to dedicate himself entirely to the sport and won his first Troféu Brasil Championship. Realizing the difficulties in swimming for the Olympic scene, he focused on shorter and middle distances before Ironman gained traction.

Santitreinos and the Long-Distance Challenge

Santitreinos was founded in 2005 when Santiago Ascenço began coaching Eduardo Custódio. The consultancy grew organically, adding coaches and building a robust team. Since 2006, Santitreinos has maintained a presence at Ironman Brasil, solidifying its leadership in the training market.

His transition to long distances began in 2005, with an experimental race in Brasília. In 2006, with the advent of the Ironman 70.3, he participated in the World Championship in Clearwater. In 2007, he achieved a Top 10 at the 70.3 World Championship, despite a 4-minute penalty. In 2009, he won the 70.3 Brazil, and in 2010, he debuted at Ironman Brasil with an impressive 3rd place. Santi describes Ironman as initially "easy" for high-volume athletes, but emphasizes the difficulty in managing pace and power, controlling initial euphoria.

Santiago Ascenço's career was also marked by iconic races and difficult moments. In 2012, at Ironman Brasil, he led until kilometer 38 of the marathon, only to be overtaken by Ezequiel, which he describes as "traumatic." In 2014, the epic battle with Igor was another moment of great challenge, where quadriceps issues and a search for salt prevented him from contending for victory. This was his last completed full Ironman race.

Legacy, Evolution, and the Future of Triathlon

For Santiago, consistency is the key to success, both in sports and business. Santitreinos prospered by always being attentive to changes, adapting from analog to digital, and investing in presence and team. His "retirement" from professional sports in 2013 was a smooth transition, focused on entrepreneurship, and today he lives the sport with more ease.

He observes the evolution of triathlon driven by technology in equipment (bicycles, clothing) and, especially, by sports nutrition, which allows for greater carbohydrate absorption and improved recovery. Although training principles haven't changed drastically, the ability to recover more quickly enables more intense sessions.

Currently, his son, Lu, is following in his footsteps in triathlon, and starting next season, will enter the professional circuit. Santiago Ascenço now acts more as a father than a coach, closely monitoring his son's dedication and collaboration with coach Frank. He projects a promising future for Brazilian triathlon, driven by events like Ironman Brasil and the work of figures like Galvão and João. Santi's final message is clear: triathlon is for life, it should be approached with ease and consistency, inspiring the next generations, a path he exemplifies perfectly.