Around GMA

Article Inside Page

Argentine businessman and content creator Nico Bolzico recently expressed his admiration for Alden Richards following their triathlon relay at the BYD Ironman 70.3 Davao.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, Nico shared photos with Alden during the triathlon, along with a message of apology and praise for the actor's determination throughout the competition.

“I HAVE TO ADMIT IT... I UNDERESTIMATED ALDEN,” he began.

“He's one of the busiest and most recognized actors out there. Good-looking, composed, with that "good boy" aura. I wasn't sure he had what it takes to fully prepare, perform, and represent BYD in an Ironman,” he revealed.

Nico shared that he even asked their coach if Alden could go sub-3 in less than two months during training, adding that the coach was also not fully convinced the actor could do it.

However, he admitted he saw the change over those two months as the Asia's Multimedia Star “showed up in a way very few people do,” even going straight from tapings to training and from the airport to the track—no sleep, no excuses, and no shortcuts.

Nico said Alden went to “a place you only reach when you truly give everything—physically and mentally.”

He added, “A dark place. The kind that breaks you, strips you down, and leaves you alone with nothing but your will. Not everyone gets there. It's almost a privilege... but also dangerous. Because once you go there, there's no guarantee you come back the same.”

From that dark place, Nico explained, “You come back stronger, sharper. You discover something inside you that was always there—but sleeping.”

“But I still wasn't sure he got it in him... Maybe I thought he was too busy. Maybe I thought he was too polished. Or maybe... just too good-looking to become a beast,” he revealed.

“Well... I was wrong...” he admitted.

On race day, Nico shared that he was waiting at the runner's tent for the final leg when Alden came in from the bike. He said he did not recognize the same person anymore in Alden.

“I saw someone who had emptied the tank completely. Someone who had given everything,” he shared.

Nico continued, “He finished the bike in under 3 hours, and with his last ounce of energy, he handed me the chip. But it wasn't just a handoff. He passed something else. ENERGY, INTENSITY, PURPOSE. He had just come back from that dark place... and brought something with him.”

“In that moment, he wasn't just Alden Richards to me. HE WAS... ALDEN F****** RICHARDS (excuse my French),” he added.

He said Alden's energy pushed him beyond his own limits. “There's a beast inside him. And in that Ironman, it came out,” Nico added.

Through sports, Nico shared, he has gained “humility, discipline, and teamwork,” which made him a “better husband, a better dad, a better friend.”

“And all of it comes from those moments - when you go to that dark place, give everything, and come back stronger. And I saw that in Alden,” he proudly said.

“THE REST IS HISTORY. Wil crushed the swim. Alden destroyed the bike. I gave everthing on the run,” he shared.

At the end of his post, Nico applauded their coach's guidance and BYD. He also apologized again to Alden for underestimating him.

“I'm proud—truly proud—to call you my teammate,” he concluded.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nico Bolzico (@nicobolzico)

The triathlon event marked Alden's first-ever triathlon relay. Joining Alden and Nico on their team was Will Dasovich.

Meanwhile, check out other celebrities who competed in marathon and triathlon races: