A University of Victoria runner鈥檚 first few months on triathlon鈥檚 world stage have seen the young racer reach his first podium.

Daniel Damian is in his first summer of racing in the elite men鈥檚 division as the circuit has taken the 20-year-old to Mexico, Europe and eventually back home.

The Claremont Secondary graduate鈥檚 sprint, which consists of a 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike and five-kilometre run, is his most competitive distance right now, UVic said in a news release.

It was in that length where Damian stood atop the elite men鈥檚 podium for the first time as he captured the bronze during a race in Holten, Netherlands on July 1.

He came close to medalling again the next week upon capping the season in Canada as the Vikes cross-country and track athlete placed fourth in the under-23 division of the 2023 Americas Triathlon Cup in Montreal.

鈥淭he sports are complimentary. Triathlon helps prepare me for the cross country and track season because I can build a lot of volume through the lower impact training of swimming and biking,鈥� he said in the news release.

鈥淭riathlon is especially good training for cross country because the race is long, so mindset becomes really important. Competing in these international races, I鈥檝e seen what it takes to compete at the highest level and I鈥檓 excited to bring that into the upcoming varsity season.鈥�

Damian was a Canada West silver medalist in the 3,000m this year and was a U SPORTS top ten finisher in 2023. He鈥檚 hoping the Vikes cross-country team can bring home a Canada West title in the upcoming season, which will begin in Bellingham, Wash. on Sept.23.

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