JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Is it any wonder that Karen Smyers' daughter loves Band-Aids?

  After all, her mother has patched herself together the last few years to continue the greatest women's triathlon career of the 1990s.

  Since 1997, the five-time women's Triathlete of the Year has been hit by a truck, undergone a Caesarean section, severed a hamstring while changing a storm window and broken her collarbone in a bike crash.

  Now, the 38-year-old faces her biggest obstacle, overcoming thyroid cancer and qualifying for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia -- just eight months away.

  Smyers underwent surgery a month ago to remove the thyroid and two cancerous lymph nodes. She was diagnosed with the disease, labeled as 95 percent curable, during a checkup before last fall's Hawaii Ironman.

  "It was the worst moment because I knew nothing about cancer," said Smyers, who visited the doctor because of a case of bronchitis. "Just hearing that `C' word sends shivers down your spine.

  "I woke up from the surgery and said, `I'm sorry, body. I don't mean to keep doing this to you.'"

  Smyers receives empathy from her daughter. Not quite 2 years old, Jenna Smyers often covers herself with adhesives that have become symbolic of her mom's physical struggles.

  Entirely upbeat, Smyers still must undergo radioactive iodine treatment, but was advised by doctors that she can wait until after the Olympic Trials in April and May.

  Still, Smyers is running 30 miles a week and swimming another 15. She has been biking throughout her recovery from a broken collarbone.

  "At this point, I'm starting from a pretty low position from my swimming and running," she said. "But at this point I should see improvement every week.

  "I hope I'm going to continue to move up and get up to at least the position I was in last year when the trials come up, and I don't think that's a lot to ask."

  Smyers says her best chance of qualifying will be April 16 at the Olympic test event in Sydney, where the top American finisher is named to the squad. The second trial is May 27 in Dallas.

  It would be a remarkable end to an outstanding career. The triathlon, which is the first event after the opening ceremonies on September 16, is in the Olympics for the first time.

  "It really is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for me," Smyers said. "I really don't think four years from now that I'll be around competing at this level.

  "Every athlete watches the Olympics growing up and thinking, `Wow, this is the pinnacle.' That's absolutely been motivation."

  Despite having cancer, Smyers trained hard enough to finish third at the Olympic-distance ITU World Cup in Cancun, Mexico in October and second at the Hawaii Ironman 13 days later.

  "What's the point of training for the Ironman when you have cancer?" Smyers thought at the time. "I realized that I wasn't just going to give up."

  Weeks earlier, the U.S. delegation for the Pan Am Games honored the ailing Smyers, selecting her as flag bearer. She placed seventh at the ensuing event.

  If possible, Smyers has been lucky to combine rehabilitations, as cancer surgery allowed her to recuperate from the broken collarbone.

  A native of Massachusetts, Smyers suffered the injury in a bike crash during the last event of 1999 -- the Ixtapa International Triathlon in Mexico. It was the first time in 15 years she was unable to finish a race.

  Smyers and her husband decided to start a family after she severed a hamstring in 1997, one day before her scheduled trip to Monte Carlo. The result was their first child, Jenna, delivered May 1, 1998 by Caesarean section.

  The gold medalist at the 1995 Pan Am Games, Smyers said giving birth allowed her to put her career in perspective.

  "As a mom, my first priority is being healthy for the long term," she said. "I'm not going to put myself at risk just to compete in the Olympics. I've done more in this sport than I ever thought I would do."

  Less than three months after giving birth, Smyers competed at the Goodwill Games, placing 22nd. She then suffered six broken ribs, a lung contusion and a separated shoulder after being hit by a semitrailer on a training ride. She missed the rest of the season.

  Smyers was able to gain perspective and strength from a pair of athletes who overcame cancer and excelled at their respective sports.

  Cyclist Lance Armstrong survived cancer that spread from his testicles to his lungs and into his brain before winning the prestigious Tour de France last summer.

  "That had a huge impact on how I've been dealing with it," Smyers said. "Lance went through way more than what I have to go through with this."

  But Smyers' greatest inspiration has come from Canadian rower Emma Robinson, who overcame an identical ordeal before setting a world record last year. Smyers was introduced to Robinson via an internet chat room.

  "She made be believe this is something I can tackle in a short period of time and compete at a high level," Smyers said.

  Smyers already has tackled a lot during her career. She was named USA Triathlon's Female Athlete of the Year five times in the 1990s, most recently last year. Even at an advanced age and having to overcome a number of setbacks, Smyers posted eight top-five finishes in 11 events last season.

  "I could retire tomorrow and still be satisfied by my career in triathlon," she said.

  She also could be the best hope the United States has at a medal in Sydney, as the top American finisher in five international events last year and one of the most resilient athletes ever.

  "Every accident that happened up to this one was an outside circumstance," she said. "The cancer is a little different. It was definitely a little bit scary. Luckily, I am not new to overcoming obstacles."