| Asthma need not be a life limiting condition, neither in | | | | swimming as a way to control her asthma attacks. |
| terms of longevity nor in terms of involvement. In | | | | Tom Dolan, another American swimmer, also suffers |
| the past, it was often the case that asthmatic | | | | from asthma and had problems competing due to |
| children were labeled 'sickly' and did not participate in | | | | restrictions on medications he could use whilst |
| exercise. Now, however, exercise is thought to be | | | | swimming competitively. He went on to win gold |
| one of the best ways of controlling asthma | | | | medals in two Olympic games. |
| long-term. Many celebrities have been very open | | | | Whilst swimming is one of the best forms of |
| about their asthma, and others are coming forward all | | | | exercise for asthmatics, other athletes have also |
| the time to help de-mystify it and to help others. | | | | reached the top of their sport despite having to |
| The fact that Theodore Roosevelt had asthma did | | | | cope with asthma. Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who was a |
| not stop him becoming president of the USA. It is | | | | top heptathlete and long-jumper, and Paula Radcliffe, |
| said that he recovered from asthma through | | | | a British marathon runner, both have asthma. |
| exercise. John F Kennedy was also an asthma | | | | Team sports are good for asthmatics because the |
| sufferer, with his worst trigger being animals. | | | | exercise is not always constant. The NFL player |
| There have been a number of famous writers, | | | | Jerome Bettis, Rugby player Austin Healey and a |
| musicians and dancers who have had asthma. | | | | number of soccer players also have asthma. Paul |
| Leonard Bernstein was a sufferer and his asthma | | | | Scholes from Manchester United and Frank Lampard |
| was so bad that sometimes people could hear him | | | | from Chelsea Football Club are two of the most |
| wheezing as he was conducting. Joseph Pulitzer was | | | | prominent asthmatics in the sport but many people |
| another sufferer, as was the dancer Robert Joffrey | | | | were surprised recently to see pictures of David |
| who kept his asthma at bay with a combination of | | | | Beckham using an inhaler. He has since said that he |
| medications, acupuncture and herbs. | | | | was happy to know that the knowledge he had |
| There is no lack of famous sports people who have | | | | asthma was helping to inspire other people with the |
| coped with asthma and even improved their condition | | | | condition to take up a sport. |
| through their sport. The swimmer Amy Van Dyken | | | | The success of these people shows that asthma |
| was the first American female to win 4 gold medals | | | | does not have to limit your achievements if you |
| in a single Olympic games. She took up the sport on | | | | have the condition. |
| the advice of doctors who suggested she try | | | | |