Jonathan Hilbert battled pain and fatigue for 35 kilometers in very humid and overcast conditions on Saturday morning in Tokyo.
He was exhausted when he finished, taking in deep breaths as beads of sweat rolled down his face. In the mixed zone after the race, he leaned forward and shifted his weight onto the gate separating the athletes from the media. When he stood again, there was a smile on his face. Hilbert was happy to finish 16th. He was happy just to be in the race.
He was happy to be alive.
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