My brest friend, Kevin McDowell has dreamed of going to the Olympics for triathlon since he was 13 years old. Shortly after winning bronze at the ITU Junior World Championships and three days after his first professional race in 2011, Kevin was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
His Olympic dream had to be put aside and his focus had to turn to beating cancer. After six months and 12 treatments, he fought it. He used to break out his chemo treatments as segments in a triathlon: in the swim you are fresh & feeling great, as you go on to the bike & the run the fatigue starts to hit.
Little did he know, this was just the beginning of his journey. When he returned to the sport he could not compete at the level he once had. There were years where he thought, “will I actually come back?”
He kept pushing and his body would give out. He never accounted for the long term effects and complications chemo and cancer would have on his body.
After years of ups and downs, he is fighting for a spot in the 2020 Olympic games on the USA Mixed Relay Team. This doesn’t even scratch the surface of his story.
Kevin has a story so incredibly inspirational and no one can tell it better than himself. The challenges he’s faced, the hurdles he’s overcome to get to where he is at today. I believe his story can bring awareness, inspire and give hope to others.