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U.S. Triathletes Ruff, Legg, Bullard Win Medals at 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Paraguay

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by USA Triathlon

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay — U.S. up-and-coming triathletes Naomi Ruff (West Chicago, Ill.) and Braxton Legg (Odessa, Fla.) won gold in the women’s and men’s triathlon events on Wednesday, Aug. 20 at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games, with their U.S. teammate Blake Bullard (Southlake, Texas) earning silver.

The three medals won by the U.S. in the individual triathlon races led all countries among the 19 represented in the women’s and men’s races. 

Ruff, Legg, Bullard and fellow U.S. teammate Jimena de la Pena (El Paso, Texas) will team up for the mixed relay competition on Friday. 

The Junior Pan American Games are held every four years, giving up-and-coming athletes a platform to perform against elite talent from the Americas countries. The event, organized by Panam Sports, includes more than 300 events in 28 sports for athletes ages 17-22. The last Junior Pan American Games were held in Cali-Valle, Colombia, in 2021.

Ruff won gold in the women's triathlon race on Wednesday, completing the 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike and 5k run course in a time of 59 minutes, 49 seconds. 

A women's collegiate triathlete, Ruff competes for NCAA Division I program, Arizona State University. As a junior, Ruff won the DI individual title at the 2024 Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championships. She'll aim to defend her title during the 2025 season, with the Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championships scheduled for Nov. 8 in Tempe, Arizona.

Ruff came up in the sport through USA Triathlon's draft-legal youth and junior racing circuits, winning the USA Triathlon Junior Draft-Legal National Championships title three consecutive years.

Ruff's Arizona State University teammate Sidney Clement, representing her native Canada, earned silver in the women's race with a time of 1:00:06. Julia Visgueiro of Brazil earned the bronze in 1:00:08. 

The men's race belonged to Legg, who cruised to gold with a time of 54:16. 

A former NCAA Division I runner at the University of Florida, Legg trains with USA Triathlon's elite development squad Project Podium. He scored his first elite win this February at the 2025 Americas Triathlon Cup La Habana.

Bullard, who also trains with Project Podium, finished 7 seconds behind Legg on Wednesday in Paraguay to earn the silver. Before joining Project Podium's daily training environment in early 2025, Bullard was an all-state cross-country runner in Texas and placed second at the 2024 USA Triathlon Junior Draft-Legal National Championships.

2025 Junior Pan American Games Asuncion
750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run


Junior Women — Complete results
1. Naomi Ruff (West Chicago, Ill.), 59:49
2. Sidney Clement (CAN), 1:00:06
3. Julia Visgueiro (BRA), 1:00:08

U.S. Finishers
10. Jimena de la Pena (El Paso, Texas), 1:02:49


Junior Men — Complete results 
1. Braxton Legg (Odessa, Fla), 54:16
2. Blake Bullard (Southlake, Texas), 54:23
3. Andree Buc (CHI), 54:30

About USA Triathlon 

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 3,500 events and races and connects with and supports more than 300,000 unique active members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.