Geneva grad McDowell heading into key stretch for Olympic hopes

Editor's note: Three Geneva High School graduates since 2007 - Tyler Hickey, Kevin McDowell and Eric Young - all have become Olympic-level athletes. We're looking back at how each of them got there this week, concluding today with McDowell.

Kevin McDowell, a 2011 Geneva graduate who has become one of the best triathlon athletes in the world, has an excellent chance of reaching a lifelong dream at the 2021 Summer Olympics.

Whether he makes it or not depends on qualifying this upcoming May, and also two discretionary selections for the U.S. team. McDowell nearly made the 2016 Olympic team and his times and accomplishments have only improved since then.

McDowell, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma his senior year at Geneva, knows the Olympics would be the icing on a long road back.

"It's been a childhood dream to go there, and not just go there but do really well and win a medal," McDowell said. "It kind of stung when I missed it in 2016 - this one I truly believe I'm ready. It would be pretty incredible especially with the obstacles and hurdles I've overcome. It hasn't been a straight road for me. I've had a lot more ups and downs than the average person."

Those ups began early. McDowell grew up swimming, became an all-state runner on Geneva's cross country team, and once he added cycling he was on his way to becoming an elite triathlete.

McDowell was named the 2009 and 2010 USA Triathlon Junior Elite Triathlete of the Year, and he was the silver medalist at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

Then came cancer, and McDowell attacked it with the same ferocity he races. After one chemotherapy session at Delnor Hospital, McDowell went to his triathlon practice and ran 8 miles.

That didn't last long. He soon found himself lying in bed and miserable.

"I didn't allow myself to factor how intense the chemo was on my body," McDowell said. "Cancer put a big hiccup in everything, with the original plan I had mapped out. I was so mentally ready to get back and excited that I didn't accept what I had gone through and pushed my body too hard, too early.

"Two years later I was wondering if this was right for me. Then I realized I wanted to come back and it's been a big slow build back."

McDowell graduated and headed to the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He realized he needed a break from triathlons and focused on school, earning a business degree.

Now 28, McDowell said the cancer created a new timetable. He didn't finish growing until he was 26, and he continued putting on muscle.

"Because I went through chemo at 18, I think it just delayed everything," McDowell said. "It's actually been fun because I feel I've got this second wind. I might be old for the sport but my body feels younger. It's exciting going to next year and making a push for the Olympic Games."

McDowell realized he was on the trajectory back when he won the silver medal at the 2014 Chengdu ITU World Cup.

He also earned a silver medal at the 2015 USA Triathlon Elite National Championships, which was held in Chicago. Two days later, he finished fourth in the U-23 World Championships, also in Chicago.

That remains a highlight of his career.

"It was incredible to race in front of friends and family and show them what I do and the level I compete at," McDowell said.

McDowell currently trains in Colorado where his parents, Mark and Traci, live. He swims, runs and rides five or six days a week.

This is the time on the triathlon calendar for training. McDowell said it always validates how much he loves the sport because he doesn't struggle with it, instead enjoying the training.

McDowell said of the three races in a triathlon, he prides himself on doing all equally well.

"The bike became one of my strengths before I got sick; now today I wouldn't say there is one that stands on top of the other," McDowell said. "I'd say my strength as a triathlete is my level of consistency across the board. There's not a big gap and one I'm way behind."

McDowell has his eyes on both the 2021 and 2024 Olympics. He's looking forward to an addition to this year's Olympics, a triathlon team relay, with two men and two women working together. McDowell's had success in that format the past two years.

He's also looking ahead to life after 2024 when he might transition to iron man and half iron man races.

Mostly, he's thankful to make a career out of a sport he loves - and for all the obstacles he's overcome.

"I feel I'm still improving," McDowell said. "As long as I'm still progressing I'll keep doing it and right now I am still checking those boxes.

"Ever since I was young I had these big ambitions. In high school I realized I could make a career out of this and make a push to make an Olympic team and make this kind of my job which is really cool because it's also my passion. It's kind of fun to do what you love and get paid to do it."