Lauzen, a Marmion grad, representing U.S. in Modern Pentathlon

“To those who much is given, much is expected.”

Without hesitation, Ted Lauzen responded to a question about his decision to enter the United States Marine Corps after graduating magna cum laude from Duke University in 2007.

After serving eight years as a member of the Marines, including an 18-month mission in Afghanistan, U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Lauzen, now two years removed from serving overseas, will now represent his country once again, but in a much different, yet equally gratifying way.

Lauzen, a Marmion graduate, will compete in the Modern Pentathlon on Sunday as part of the 2015 World Championships in Berlin.

The Modern Pentathlon, an Olympic sport, consists of five sports – fencing, swimming, horseback riding, shooting and running – which are all completed in one day. Lauzen, an Aurora native and the son of Kane County Board chairman Chris Lauzen, will represent Team USA, as well as the United States and the Marine Corps.

“It has been a privilege to represent the Marine Corps and the United States in combat as a light attack helicopter pilot and, now, in competition as an elite athlete,” Lauzen said. “Both have been wonderful opportunities to serve my country, improve unique skills and perform them under high levels of pressure. I could not be more proud to represent both the finest fighting force and the greatest nation in the world.”

When not competing, Lauzen lives near the U.S. Olympic training center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with his wife, Sarah, and 8-month-old daughter, Caroline.

Chris Lauzen and his wife, also named Sarah, could not be prouder parents and have seen and contacted their son sparingly during his time overseas, both in the Marines and now while training for the pentathlon.

As far as this opportunity that Ted Lauzen has been given, both of his parents know how much of an honor it is and understand the sacrifices not only they, but also he must take.

“Our whole family understands what a rare privilege and honor it is for Ted to represent his country, city, and family and friends in world competition,” Chris Lauzen said.

Ted Lauzen was no stranger to pentathlons before this opportunity, however, competing in several at the junior level during his time at Marmion, as well as at Duke.

He admitted he thought his days of competitive athletics were over upon commission into the Marines, but never lost sight of his training regimen, as well as contact with both friends and coaches on Team USA.

“One of the coaches mentioned there was an opportunity to earn a spot on the U.S. National Team,” Ted Lauzen said. “My wife and my commanding officer were supportive and excited about the opportunity to chase the Olympic dream.”

After submitting the necessary paperwork and waiting for word, Ted Lauzen received final approval as a member of Team USA. If that news was not enough, Ted and Sarah also found out that Sarah was expecting their first child on the same day.

Ted Lauzen is currently living in Drzonkow, Poland, while training. With an extremely heavy training schedule, Ted Lauzen speaks briefly with his wife, and says deployments and month-long training detachments have taught him a very valuable life lesson.

“Military life prepares everyone involved for long absences,” Ted Lauzen said. “[My wife] Sarah and I have learned to take advantage of the times we get to exchange emails or briefly chat. She is a wonderful woman who is positive, strong and independent. So, although we have only spoken a couple times during my time here, we make the most out of every opportunity.”

He says they both take lots of pictures during absences and write down stories so they have and remember things to share with each other.

But back to the training and necessary stamina it takes to compete in the five events in one day. Ted went onto explain how each event worked, what points were awarded and deducted for, and how the events worked.

The sports are completed in this order: fencing, swimming, horseback riding, shooting and running. The day begins with a round-robin fencing competition, followed by a 200-meter, long-course freestyle swim. Individuals then draw random horses in order to complete a stadium jumping course of 12 to 15 jumps, ranging from three to four feet.

Ted Lauzen joked that it often helps to have a bit of luck on your side when drawing horses.

After the first three events, points and times are calculated and, essentially, each competitor is seeded and starts the final stretch in order based on their point totals.

The run-shoot event includes four shooting stages and four half-mile runs. Ted said his favorite event, by far, is the running, as his four years of running the 800 meters at Marmion helped him prepare.

Needless to say, the training regimen is extensive and requires complete dedication. Athletes train six days a week, with each day differing slightly. But Ted Lauzen said a usual day consists of three hours of fencing, a 3,000- or 4,000-meter swim, a lunch break and finishing off the day with a minimum five- or six-mile run, with shooting practice to follow.

Training internationally, however, has allowed him to practice with athletes from six different countries preparing for the World Championships in Poland.

“We get to see a variety of style in each sport,” Ted Lauzen said. “We also work with coaches from the host country, so each brings different views and experiences that can be valuable.”

Ted Lauzen said Drzonkow was specifically built as a modern pentathlon training facility.

Sunday’s competition will not make or break his future with the modern pentathlon. Lauzen wants to do his best and make everyone in the United States proud, but said he has every intention of competing in the future.

After Berlin’s games come the World Military Games in South Korea in October. Earlier this year, Ted Lauzen also competed on two U.S. World Cup teams in Sarasota, Florida (the site of next year’s Olympic Trials) as well as Cairo.

But as much as getting this once in a lifetime opportunity has meant to him, Ted Lauzen said he would not be where he is today without the support system he’s had to work with.

“I would like to thank everyone from my family and friends back home in the Fox Valley and Marine Corps for their continued support and encouragement,” Ted Lauzen said. “It’s because of the support I receive that I will continue to do my best and improve.”

The extended absences have grown easier on Lauzen’s loved ones. For his parents, it is a relief to have their son and his 253-man squadron out of harm’s way and safely back after 18 months in the Marines.

“You can imagine how much more comfortable it is having your son training at the Olympic training center instead,” Ted’s mother, Sarah, said.

Chris Lauzen said he is unsure if the family will be able to watch the race, as sometimes it has been streamed online.

But whether it is representing the U.S. in the military or in an Olympic sport, everyone close to Ted Lauzen knows that he is doing something that he always has been and always will be passionate about.

All in all, Chris and Sarah Lauzen know their son is safe and at the end of the day, they can sleep at night knowing that very fact.