Las Vegas cyclist muscles through the tough times to compete in China

At 24 years old, insurance agent and amateur athlete Bruce Balch was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

It was an odd occurrence for a man so young, according to Balch.

"It's not like you hear of young men dealing with that sort of thing very often, but it does happen," he said. "I'm proof of that."

Balch, now 48, has been an avid cyclist since graduating from Western High School in 1980. He said he always ate right and competed in triathlons and continued to do so even after being diagnosed with and surviving cancer at age 24.

"I thought I was doing everything right," he said. "People who take care of themselves don't tend to get sick, or so we're told."

Maybe that's why, in 2007, when he was diagnosed with Type One adult onset diabetes, Balch was shocked.

"I'd been through a health issue before, and I'd beaten it," he said. "Now here I was again more than 20 years later with a condition I will have to live with and monitor the rest of my life."

Balch said one of the most frustrating things about his condition has been that doctors cannot give him a reason why he now has diabetes.

"They said sometimes it just happens, and they don't know why," he said. "Living with this is so much harder than I'd ever imagined."

Still, Balch hasn't allowed the disease to keep him from competing as an athlete. In fact, last year, Balch ranked 11th nationwide in his age group for triathlon competitors, a distinction that earned him the opportunity to represent the United States in September in the 2011 World Sprint Triathlon Championships in Beijing.

"I am really excited," he said. "This is such a huge honor."

Balch said winning the competition, which will include biking, swimming and running, would make him world champion.

"I think it would be an amazing accomplishment for me," he said. "I've tried to show with my actions that we all set our own limitations. What I really hope I've shown is that there aren't any limitations. You can do anything you set your heart and mind on. Don't talk. Don't let anything hold you back. Just do it."

Laura Balch has been supporting her husband of 25 years in his athletic endeavors for a long time and said she believes what he's been able to do is quite an accomplishment considering many of the health issues he has battled.

"The fact that he's been racing for as long as he has been with all the little health issues he's been forced to face and still excel at the level he's been performing at is incredible," she said. "Really, really inspiring."

Laura Balch said she's very proud of her husband.

"He works really hard to do what he does," she said. "He's out there riding or running or swimming every day, no matter how he's feeling. That's a huge commitment."

Balch said he's looking forward to representing his country this year but has been struggling with fundraising efforts.

"I am actually looking for corporate sponsors," he said. "Anybody who would be willing to help me out would be doing me such a service. It would take a lot of the strain of trying to make this happen all alone."

Balch said even if he doesn't win the Beijing competition, he would never stop racing as long as he is able.

"This isn't something you give up easily," he said. "It becomes a part of your blood. It makes me happy. I enjoy the competition. It's just one of those things you start to live for, and I do."

Balch said if he does win the competition, however, he thinks it might turn out to be the thrill of his life.

"I think it would end up being one of my proudest moments ever," he said. "I'm working hard to ensure that I do win. I'm taking this very seriously. I want to represent my country well, and I'm going to."

Contact Southwest and Spring Valley View reporter Amanda Donnelly at adonnelly@viewnews.com or 380-4535.