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Amy Yoder-Begley is an Olympian everyone can cheer for
Every athlete has to overcome certain obstacles on their path to becoming an Olympian. Amy Yoder-Begley (front) is no exception; it's just that her path was filled with so many bumps along the way that's it hard to believe she actually made it to Beijing. Yoder-Begley will be representing the United States tomorrow in the 10,000 meters which is unbelieveable considering the health problems she has dealt with over her athletic career. If you get the chance, you should read Michael Rothstein's terrific story about the runner in the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette.
For the better part of a decade, Yoder-Begley's training runs were constantly being interrupted. Among her symptoms were fatigue, anemia and always feeling like she had to go to the bathroom. As Rothstein points out, in a sport like running where endurance and the ability to push through adversity under any circumstances is key, Yoder Begley's inability to make it through an entire workout without stopping was a real problem.
“I went through two years where I couldn’t run 30 minutes without having to use the bathroom,” Yoder-Begley said. “All my runs and all my workouts were geared around where can I stop and go to the bathroom.”
Yoder-Begley saw several doctors but none of them could give an exact diagnosis. Finally in 2006, the Indiana native went to see Dr. Dan Bernardot who is the director of the laboratory for elite performance at Georgia State. After hearing some of her symptoms, Bernardot was finally able to give Yoder-Begley a proper diagnosis ... she suffered from celiac disease.
Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine, interfering with the absorption of nutrients. Those diagnosed can’t handle gluten, which is commonly found in wheat, rye and barley. It can also be on stamp adhesive, medicines, vitamins, shampoos and toothpaste.
After finally being properly diagnosed, Yoder-Begley saw almost immediate results. She was able to train for much longer stretches of time, and knowing what she could and could not eat provided her with more energy than she had had in years.
But as Rothstein points out, Yoder-Begley was at such a major disadvantage in terms of her health concerns that what she accomplished seems even more unlikely.
Most athletes eat carbohydrates before an event. Many common carbohydrates such as pastas and breads, are devastating for those with gluten intolerance. And going undiagnosed, it can make what Yoder-Begley has accomplished – making the U.S. Olympic team – impossible.
Upon qualifying for the team in June, she called the USOC and they helped set her up with a chef who has been cooking gluten-free meals for her in Beijing. Before she left for China, she spent her time packing up certain foods she knew she would need before her competition.
Yoder-Begley hopes that her performance on the Olympic stage will raise awareness about celiac disease. No matter how she fares in the 10,000 meters, Yoder-Begley has already accomplished a dream that nobody thought would have been possible.
Photo via Getty Images
