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He was definitely going to win the world championship in Beijing. There was no doubt in my mind. I want to win him the gold medal. — Lukas Verzbicas


In March, McDowell was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The cancer takes aim at those in their physical prime, people between the ages of 15 and 40. If caught early, survival rate for five years can be as high as 95 percent, because they’re young, many live much longer—40 years or more. Hodgkin’s managed to do what little else could — take two supremely fit athletes, guys who train 20 hours a week, and knock them flat on their backs.


“I was sitting in math class,” Verzbicas said. “I got a text message from one of my teammates: ‘Kevin has cancer.’”


Verzbicas was crushed.


“I’ve never seen him the way he reacted,” said Keith Dickson, who coaches both athletes. “He was emotionally torn up.”


For two days, Verzbicas could not bring himself to train.


“He just lay down in bed, closed his door and said, `Don’t bother me,’” said his mom, Rasa.


Through the spring and summer, McDowell has endured chemotherapy that sapped his world-class endurance and buoyant personality.


When an athlete gets sick or hurt, teammates often dedicate victories or seasons. Verzbicas is going further. He has pledged to win worlds for McDowell, yes, but also for him.


“He was definitely going to win the world championship in Beijing,” Verzbicas said. “There was no doubt in my mind. I want to win him the gold medal.


“He’s the most deserving. He was supposed to win it. That was his dream. I wanted to keep it alive.” Chances are good McDowell, the only returning top-three finisher, would have delivered to become the first U.S. junior world champion since Steve Duplinsky in 2005.


“At first I didn’t know what to think,” McDowell said of Verzbicas’ pledge soon after his diagnosis in March. “It means a lot.”


Verzbicas took the extraordinary step because McDowell is more than a friend and teammate.


 


Kevin McDowell won the silver medal at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games and in 2011, posted a top-10 finish at the USAT Elite Race Series event in Clermont, his last race before the diagnosis.


USATRIATHLON.ORG USA TRIATHLON 53

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