Posted: October 26, 2005

Triathlon: Brain-tumor patient to compete at 2005 Ford Ironman Florida

BOULDER, Colo.—Brain-tumor patient Luis Velasquez (Pearland, Texas) will compete at the 2005 Ford Ironman Florida being held Nov. 5 in Panama City Beach, Fla.

Velasquez, a 35-year-old professor at Rice University in Houston, Texas, started experiencing continuous headaches and hearing loss in 2003, which were later revealed to be symptoms of a brain tumor. The tumor grew to the size of golf ball; however, Velasquez was content on fighting the illness and continuing his pastime of triathlon.

Velasquez, along with the steadfast attitude of his wife, Sara, decided that the malignant tumor would not hamper their spirits, and they made a decision to compete in the Chicago Marathon a year later.

Velasquez eventually underwent an eight-hour surgery to have the majority of the tumor removed in January of 2004. Doctors then had to go in and relieve the fluid build-up in Velasquez’s brain within 12 days of the primary operation. Doctors were unable to remove the entire tumor because of its placement, and for the real possibility that removing the tumor in its entirety could have caused Velasquez to lose his hearing or vision.

Velasquez soon began physical therapy, advancing from a walker to a cane within a few days, and within three months of surgery he began walking with little ill effect. Velasquez then started building toward his normal training regimen, and on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2004, exactly one year from the day he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, he and his wife competed in and finished the Chicago Marathon.

Though Velasquez has reclaimed his health to date, his tumor continues to grow, and he will likely have to undergo more surgeries in the future. However, Velasquez’s primary goal of competing at an Ironman-distance event will occur at the 2005 Ford Ironman Florida.

More than 2,000 triathletes from around the world are expected to compete in the 2005 Ford Ironman Florida. Athletes will be competing for 80 qualifying spots to the 2006 Ford Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, as well as a $55,000 pro-prize purse.