In line with Dikembe Mutombo's brain tumour diagnosis, we decided that is only fitting that we take a look at other high profile athletes that have, at any point in their careers, battled a disease.
1) Muhammad Ali and Parkinson Disease:
One of the greatest boxers in history, Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984.
Parkinson’s is a retrogressive condition that affects the central nervous system. Ali was a devoted activist for Parkinson’s research and opened the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Centre in 1997.
He died in 2016 after experiencing a respiratory illness. Respiratory illnesses can be complicated by neurological conditions like Parkinson’s.
2) Christian Eriksen and Cardiac Arrest:
On Saturday, June 12th, 2021, Christian Eriksen, a 29-year-old from Denmark, suddenly passed out on the pitch of Parken Stadium during his country’s Euro 2020 game against Finland due to his heart going into sudden cardiac arrest.
The Dane's heart wasn’t able to pump blood to his brain; he lost consciousness and fell to the ground. Within minutes the medical staff surrounded him.
They checked for a pulse but quickly realized there was no pulse, so they started CPR on him. Seeing that he was unresponsive, a defibrillator was brought out to shock the heart to restore his heartbeat.
Fortunately, they were able to resuscitate Christian Eriksen successfully, and he is doing well now.
3) Magic Johnson and HIV:
On November 7, 1991, basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson stuns the world by announcing his abrupt retirement from the Los Angeles Lakers, after testing positive for HIV.
At a time when many Americans viewed AIDS as solely a gay white man’s disease, it came as a shock when Johnson, who is Black and identifies as heterosexual, announced to the public about his HIV-positive status.
Today, Johnson is a prominent spokesman for AIDS awareness. He serves as an example of how a variety of drug treatments have transformed AIDS from a death sentence into a manageable condition.
4) Venus Williams and Sjogren' Syndrome:
Tennis star Venus Williams shared in 2011 that she has Sjogren’s syndrome.
Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disorder; main symptoms being fatigue and joint pain, which caused Williams to pull out from the 2011 U.S. Open.
Since then Venus has returned to tennis with a new diet and altered training program. Williams believes a vegan and raw foods diet helps reduce inflammation associated with Sjogren’s.
5) Tim Howard and Tourette's Syndrome:
Former goalkeeper for the U.S. national football team and the English football club Everton Tim Howard struggles with Tourette's .
Howard rose to prominence despite battling Tourette’s syndrome. This neurological disorder is characterized by involuntary movements and vocalizations called “tics.”
Diagnosed at age 9, he has learned to manage his condition. He’s currently an outspoken patient-advocate for the disorder. Howard’s memoir The Keeper: A Life of Saving Goals and Achieving Them shares his experience of living with Tourette’s syndrome.
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