Atlanta brothers defy odds to cross finish line

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. When Brent Pease finished his first Ironman, his younger brother Kyle took an interest in competing.

But for Kyle, a quadriplegic born with cerebral palsy, taking part in the grueling race wasn't as simple as signing up, CBS affiliate WHNT-TV reports.

"Brent went through the normal explanation of the challenges. 'You put one foot in front of the other and hit the wall and can't even go on, it's just mental strength,'" said the brothers' father, Richard Pease. "And he looked at Kyle and said, 'Kyle, but you do that every day, what's the difference?'"

"This light bulb went off, and Kyle said, 'I want to do that and feel what it feels like to be an athlete.'"

So the brothers, along with Kyle's twin, Evan, set about transforming the solitary sport into a team effort.

Brent and Kyle recently completed their second long-course triathlon -- the brothers' 20th race together.

In the race's 1.2-mile swim, Brent pulls Kyle in a kayak, and in the 56-mile bike ride, the brothers use a bicycle with a seat designed specifically for Kyle. Brent pushes Kyle in a wheelchair in the race's final leg, a 13.1-mile run.

"There are highs and there are lows. For us, the hardest part is the days are typically long," said Brent. "But I think everybody out here goes through the same ups and downs. Not everything goes the way you want it to."

Despite the challenges of the competitions, Kyle says he is inspired by his fellow triathletes.

"Just keep positive and you'll have a gift," he said. "We have to open up that gift and share it with others."

The brothers have also established the Kyle Pease Foundation, which helps meet the needs of other disabled athletes by providing adaptive sports equipment, mobility devices or medical care.