KEY POINTS:
When the mere act of breathing is sometimes a struggle, making it to the Olympics is some achievement.
Making it to three is remarkable.
Kashi Leuchs, the last New Zealander standing at the Beijing Olympics, is living proof that the obstacles life throws up can either defeat you, or make you more determined.
As he pedals in today's cross-country mountain bike ride _ the last event featuring a New Zealander at these Games _ he will be hoping it is not a bad day for his asthma. The 30-year-old professional rider has suffered from the condition all his life and believes it has taken a toll on him.
"You have bad periods and good periods," he said this week as he prepared for the race at Laoshan, his third Olympics. "Even when it's low it's there and cross-country mountain bike racing requires extreme effort at the start, a two- or three-minute sprint."
That sort of exertion pushes the body into an anaerobic state where it is struggling to take in enough oxygen.
"Even one or two per cent loss of breathing ability is crucial," said Leuchs. "When my asthma flares up, my starts go out [the rear] and that takes me out of the contest for front positions straight away."
Since late last year, he has been working with a Belgian doctor on trying to find the trigger for his asthma. He thinks they are getting close _ certain moulds which, in certain breathing conditions, combine with particular bacteria to inhibit his breathing. Finding a solution may be more difficult and take lots more time.
While reducing his asthma symptoms would help in his career _ he would love to improve on the two top-10 finishes he has claimed in world championship races, and the 17th and 28th Olympic placings _ for Leuchs, it's not just about sport.
"This is really for me much more a long-term issue. It's about living healthily and this is something a lot of Kiwis have to deal with. So, no, it's not just a sports problem."
Sickness has held him back over the past month. He missed a week of training suffering from a virus, but he hopes that, ironically, the rest may have given his lungs and airways time to strengthen in preparation for today's race.
He has been out on the course this week and expects it to be a tough test of fitness. "The gradient is extremely steep compared to normal. On the hills you will need to recover quick and hit the next one hard to give you the momentum.
"I'll just be aiming everything I can at this." He would love to finish in the top 20. "It's the Olympics and [the result is] never decided before the race."
Beyond Beijing, he is looking forward to continuing his career for years to come and would love to be racing in London in four years time.
