HBO's 'Real Sports' Returns With Heartwarming Story of Brotherly Love

EAGLE, ID — Nine-year-old Lucas Aldrich was born with a rare neurological disorder that has robbed him of his ability to walk and speak like other children. Fortunately, his older brother, Noah, competes in triathlons and wouldn't dream of leaving Lucas behind, unless of course he's trailing in a bright orange raft or buggy.

"I try to start off slow so I can conserve my energy and not use it all at once," confides the bespectacled Noah to HBO's Soledad O’Brien for an upcoming segment of "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel." The segment begins airing on Tuesday at 10 p.m. (EDT). See trailer at the bottom of this story.

At age 11, Noah has already learned a valuable life lesson that has eluded many adult athletes. Namely, that family comes first and sacrifice for others provides greater satisfaction than the pursuit of victory at any cost.

For Noah, that means pulling Lucas along in his raft when he swims 200 yards in a triathlon, towing Lucas in a buggy when he bikes five miles or pushing his brother toward the finish line of a one-mile course.

"Not exactly," Noah concedes when asked if he has won any of the events he entered with Lucas, who suffers from Lissencephaly and will one day probably lose his battle with the disease.

Noah wouldn't change his competition strategy if it meant tasting victory without his younger brother.

"Lucas weighs anywhere from 60 to 70 pounds. I weigh about 75 pounds and the cart weighs 50 pounds so I'm pulling over 100 pounds usually," the red-headed Noah acknowledged in the interview.

HBO's O'Brien traveled to Eagle, Idaho to meet the brothers and talk to their family in her uplifting segment.

"It can be hard but I just look back and see Lucas' smile and it just kind of fuels me up to keep going," Noah told O'Brien.

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Photo courtesy of HBO's "Real Sports"