Holm Bank partners with triathlete Rinel Pius to support his journey to the top of the sport

Holm Bank has partnered with professional triathlete Rinel Pius to support his preparations for the 2026 season, enabling him to focus on his key sporting goals in the year ahead.

At 26, Pius competes in the IRONMAN PRO category and trains under Marko Albert, a two-time Olympian. While thousands of amateur athletes take part in IRONMAN events each year, only professionals race in the PRO division, earning ranking points and competing for qualification to the World Championship. In the 2025 season, Pius completed his first full-distance IRONMAN PRO race in 8 hours and 5 minutes – the fourth-fastest time ever recorded by an Estonian over the full distance.

Targeting a national record and World Championship qualification

IRONMAN is widely regarded as one of the toughest endurance events in the world. The full-distance race consists of a 3.8 km swim, a 180 km cycle and a 42.2 km marathon. In the PRO field, the world’s leading triathletes compete, and finishing times under eight hours are considered world-class.

“My goal this year is to complete a full-distance IRONMAN in under 7 hours and 55 minutes, set a new Estonian record, and qualify for the PRO World Championship,” said Pius. “I believe I have everything it takes – there are no obvious weaknesses in my disciplines, and I can maintain a strong pace over long distances. Holm Bank’s support gives me confidence and allows me to focus fully on training and preparing for the season.”

Peak performance in IRONMAN is often reached between the ages of 30 and 35. At just 26, Pius is already approaching the eight-hour mark, suggesting strong potential for further improvement in the coming years.

Top performance requires exceptional workload

Competing at the highest level demands a significant training volume. Pius’s 2026 programme includes between 1,000 and 1,100 training hours over the year, averaging 28 to 32 hours per week. Alongside his athletic career, he works part-time as an environmental specialist and holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in environmental engineering and management from TalTech.

Shared values

According to Holm Bank CEO Kaspar Kalvet, it was Pius’s dedication and determination that stood out.

“Rinel’s journey shows what can be achieved through consistent effort and clear goals. Great results are built on commitment and discipline – values that are just as important in business as they are in sport,” Kalvet said.

He added that Holm Bank aims to support people who are willing to work persistently towards their goals and whose journeys inspire others.

Creating opportunities

For Holm Bank, supporting athletes is about creating opportunities – enabling dedicated individuals to focus on their goals and take their ambitions to an international level. The partnership with Rinel Pius reflects the bank’s commitment to supporting Estonian sport and those who demonstrate, through hard work and determination, how far it is possible to go.