Photo via Athletics Weekly

Beth Dobbin: ‘I feel like I’ve lost everything’

Former Olympic sprinter Beth Dobbin, who competed for Great Britain at the 2021 Tokyo Games and Scotland at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, has revealed the devastating toll of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), a chronic illness that has confined her to bed for over 22 hours a day since its onset. Diagnosed after a series of infections—including Covid and glandular fever—left her with severe fatigue, pain, and cognitive difficulties, Dobbin’s condition worsened despite qualifying for major competitions that same year, including the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and European Championships.

Even minor activities, like a 30-minute interview, can trigger relapses lasting months, yet she spoke out to raise awareness, acknowledging the risks while emphasizing the urgency of sharing her experience. With no known cure, Dobbin, now 32, has left her bed fewer than five times this year, losing her independence, career, and ability to train—describing her situation as having ‘lost everything’ except her family.

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The Olympic sprinter now bedbound for 22 hours a day