The American sprinter Brittany Brown dedicated her bronze medal in the 200m at the Paris Olympic Games to women suffering from endometriosis.
An important message to women who suffer
Very emotional, she wanted to pay tribute to these women: “To all the women who have health problems, to all the women suffering from endometriosis, from PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), to all the athletes who have contacted me saying ‘No one notices me, the coaches don’t pay attention to me,’ I am with you because I am one of you,” the athlete said in tears. The 29-year-old added, “I am so grateful to have been able to be a figure, to be here, to live this moment, and to be useful. Because it’s not about me. It’s about the people who look like me, who resonate with my story.”
Endometriosis: an obstacle to the podium?
The 2019 World Championships silver medalist also revealed that she suffers from endometriosis. This chronic condition affects one in ten women and is usually characterized by severe pain during menstruation and/or fertility issues. It’s a condition that is still not well understood and is being studied by specialists. It’s important for women to break the silence about this condition. Living with such monthly pain is challenging. The condition is especially debilitating for athletes who cannot train during painful periods, often coinciding with menstruation, though the pain can occur at various times during the female menstrual cycle. Even today, the female body is poorly understood, and women’s pain is often minimized and overlooked. However, for high-level athletes, this can cost them a place on the podium. If a competition day coincides with a day of pain, the medal can be lost.
What exactly is endometriosis?
It’s a gynecological condition characterized by the abnormal presence of endometrial tissue in the abdominal cavity. Under the influence of sex hormones, this tissue bleeds and proliferates, causing local inflammation, the formation of cysts, scars, and fibrous adhesions between organs and the abdomen. This condition affects women between the ages of 16 and 50. It’s a fairly common condition, affecting one in ten women. It manifests as episodes of sometimes unbearable abdominal pain and fertility issues. It’s a very debilitating condition in daily life.
But for women like Brittany Brown, there is no choice: they have to work through the pain. This is how she wishes to show her support for all the women who suffer from this condition and who, despite everything, remain strong.