These Estonian triplets are about to make history at the Rio Olympics
Leila, Liina, and Lily Luik are not expected to medal when they compete at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
But the three Estonian marathon runners will make history, as the first set of triplets to compete together.
The triplets, now 30, will race in their first Olympics this summer, despite only seriously training for marathon running since they were 24 years old.
Reuters recently followed the triplets as they trained for the biggest race of their lives.
Meet Leila, Liina, and Lily Luik, from left to right.
REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
They're believed to be the first triplets to ever compete together in the Olympics.
REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
The triplets are from Tartu, Estonia's second largest city known for its university. Tartu is about 100 miles from Estonia's capital, Tallinn.
REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
The 30-year-old sisters only took up serious distance running when they were 24, but now they're headed to the Olympics.
REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
Leila, right, has the fastest personal best of the sisters, according to Reuters, running a 2013 marathon in 2:37. Liina, center, comes next, followed by Lily, left.
REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
"We have been active since childhood, we love dancing, we love to be active and this pushed us to professional sports," Lily, pictured here in the front, told Reuters.
REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
Liina, in the center here, got the sisters to start running.
REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
The sisters train together, according to Reuters, spending winters at a high-altitude camp in Kenya. Starting in June, they'll be training for Rio in northern Italy.
REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
Rio won't be their first time competing against each other. Here, Lily, left, and Liina, right, celebrate in 2015 after the 15th IAAF Championships in Beijing, China.
REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
When training for the upcoming Olympics, their slogan was "Trio to Rio" — a goal they've now achieved.
REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
For Rio though, all three sisters told Reuters that their goal was "was to finish together, to set personal bests and to finish with a smile."
REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
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