These Celebrity Athletes Have Fought Crohn's Disease

When diagnosed with a chronic disease, exercise may be the last thing on the to-do list. However, when being an athlete is revolved around career, a diagnosis that could limit activity level is going to be devastating. Crohn’s disease can take a huge toll on a person’s body. It requires numerous lifestyle changes, trial and error with a variety of medications, and for some, many surgeries as well.

Crohn’s disease can infiltrate many aspects of a person’s life such as their job, life at home, and social activities. This can also lead to depression which can have a cyclical effect of worsening Crohn’s symptoms.

Yet Crohn’s disease does not have to own you. The following athletes are proof that while Crohn’s may always be a part of your life, it does not have to be your whole story. These individuals have taken their diagnoses and personal stories and decided to use them to raise awareness about Crohn’s disease and support benefits.

David Garrard

The Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard had a surgery that removed a foot of his large intestine due to his Crohn’s disease. Garrard was diagnosed in 2004 but did not immediately seek healthcare treatment when his symptoms started. Since he thought it was a stomach bug, he waited 3 months before going to see a provider. Eventually he began to lose weight, but was then put on medication which helped his symptoms prior to him having surgery. Crohn’s disease did not stop him. In 2013 he was signed by the New York Jets but ended up retiring in the same year for knee problems. Garrard has done his part to not only remind people that they don’t have to let their IBD own them, but to also raise awareness. He started the David Garrard Foundation that helps single moms with breast cancer and young children with Crohn’s disease. Hopefully this athlete’s hard work and perseverance will inspire young people with Crohn’s to continue to chase their dreams.

Carrie Johnson

Carrie Johnson is an Olympic kayaker with Crohn’s disease. When she became fatigued, anemic and lost a lot of weight in 2003, she had to stop training, but she didn’t stop dreaming. She was eventually diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and with the help of a stellar healthcare team she was able to manage her condition. A year after diagnosis she qualified for the Olympics in Athens. In 2012 she reached the semifinals in two events in the London Games. Like Garrard, she has also retired, but she has not stopped trying to inspire and advocate for other people with Crohn’s disease. She strongly encourages other people to not be embarrassed by the disease and to get out there and chase their dreams. Her public messages of encouragement will help support other people, especially young female athletes, to never give up.

Jim Myers

Anyone who has ever watched World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) probably thinks that the only healthcare issues those guys have come from the chairs that they hit each other with. However, Jim Myers (AKA George “the Animal” Steele), was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 1988. At the time, he retired, since the doctors told him that his colon was so diseased that it required removal. Steele refused the surgery initially, but in 2002 he ended up needing removal. While he was not able to continue his athletic career, Steele took it upon himself to become a motivational speaker for other people and travelled around the United States. There was much less awareness during the time of his diagnosis, so him coming out and raising awareness was impactful.

Read on to learn about more celebrity athletes who have fought Crohn's disease.

Photo sources: David Garrard by Alex Miroshnichenko; NHL Flames Fleury 20090925 by Red Mile; iPhone Matt Light by Charlie Lyons-Pardue