Three Sisters, One Olympic Dream: The Luige Story

Estonia's Fastest Three Sisters

Tallinn's Old Town may be famous for its centuries-old spires, but right now, Estonia's hottest trio are three sisters with serious pace. Meet Leila, Liina, and Lily Luige—graceful, fast, and locked onto one target: Rio 2016.

Last Sunday, the youngest, Lily, crossed the finish line in Valencia with a marathon time of 2:40:26. That's an Olympic qualifying standard. One sister down, two to go.

Trio to Rio: Not Quite "All or Nothing"

The phrase Trio to Rio sounds like an all-or-nothing pact—all three go, or none do. But that's not how the Luiges operate. They don't hold each other back. "It's not like we wait for one another," Lily laughs. Yet the maths are encouraging: of the three sisters, two are now Rio-bound. And Leila—who still needs to hit the standard—holds the fastest personal best of the bunch: 2:37:12. She's planning to chase the Olympic mark in January, either in Dubai or Houston.

So don't expect a duo. Expect a trio.

Training Together, Running Apart

During races, each sister is on her own. But in training camps and weekly sessions, they're inseparable. The motivation comes from within—they do this for their dreams, and for the shared goal of setting an Estonian record. Friendly rivalry helps too. Nobody wants to be the weakest link.

When they finish races together, sometimes crossing the line hand in hand, the question of prize money comes up. The three burst out laughing and answer in unison: "We share it like sisters."

The training load tells you everything. At camp, they run 200 km per week. Their easy pace sits at 5:00 per kilometre—a speed that would have a serious amateur struggling. Their race tempo? Around 4:30 per kilometre.

Olympic qualification isn't a one-time box to tick. You prove yourself every year. Without expensive—but essential—training camps, it wouldn't be possible. That's why the Luiges have multiple backers, including a certain sportswear giant whose motto they live by: Impossible is nothing.

Our Belief

KSA Silmakeskus backs these three completely. Listen to their training volumes, their times, their hunger. Trio to Rio isn't just a catchphrase. It's a promise.

Go on, sisters. Show the world what Estonian athletes are made of.