Athlete reveals heartbreaking diagnosis which left her ‘unable to walk’ before remarkable win at Olympics
Team GB hero Lina Nielsen was dealt the brutal health blow when she was a teenager
Throughout the duration this year's tournament, countless Olympians have had praised heaped upon them for using their prestigious platforms demonstrate to the world the extent of human strength and stamina.
Especially is the case of one athlete, who put in a mesmerising effort during the women's 400m hurdles semi-finals earlier this week, despite having been diagnosed with a life-altering health condition just 10 years prior.
We are, of course, talking about Team GB hero Lina Nielsen.
Advert
The 28-year-old sprinter and hurdler had her first taste of taste of international stardom back in 2021, when she came out on top of the 400m hurdles at the 2021 European Athletics Team Championships, with a staggering store of 55.59.
Little did her fans know at the time, however, that seven years earlier, Lina's world was turned upside down when she woke up one day with numbness down the right side of her body.
Aged just 17 at the time, the sportswoman was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis - a chronic condition that can affect the brain and spinal cord.
Potential symptoms of the life-long ailment include problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance.
Lina opted to keep her condition under wraps from the public until 2022.
And thankfully, since then, Lina has used her diagnosis as fire to fuel her passion even further, which led to her reaching the qualifies of the 2024 Olympic Games.
Tragedy struck earlier this week, however, when the sporting icon tragically clipped the final hurdle of the 400m semi finals on Tuesday (6 Aug), sending the Stade de France's crowd into a horrified silence.
What happened next, however, saw spectators around the world in awe, after her twin sister Laviai - also a competitor in the same category, who was also diagnosed with MS - helped her to stand and eventually walk across the finish line.
Despite the loss, Lina later told press: "Ten years ago I had to learn how to walk again."
She added: "I’m fighting every single day to try to get here. I really believed I could make the final which was why I was really fighting."
"I was panicking all week because being in the village and being around so many people and Covid and the food, I was scared that I might suffer a relapse."
Despite since being knocked out of the race, Lina has been dubbed an inspiration by many fans.
Today (9 August) will see her sister Laviai going for glory in the heat of the 4x400m women’s relay.
Rhianna Benson