Three-time Olympic medalist Roger Black has shared he did not want his athletics career to be defined by his health challenges as he recovers from a heart surgery .
Roger Black, who won a bronze medal in the 4x400m relay at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics before securing silver at the 1996 Atlanta Games, competed while managing a heart condition he had kept largely private.
He was diagnosed with an incompetent aortic valve at the age of 11, requiring annual hospital check-ups throughout his life.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Roger Black explained; “It wasn’t something I kept secret, but it certainly wasn’t something I ever talked about. I didn’t want it to define me or be an excuse. In the Olympics, you don’t want any excuses.”
The 58 year old underwent open-heart surgery earlier this year as his condition worsened.
“It’s a weird one. I didn’t have symptoms or feel ill, but I knew I had a problem. I knew I would need a new valve, but I didn’t think it would be at 58 – I thought I would be a bit older. But I went down feeling fine and was told things had changed dramatically and I needed surgery. It was a real shock,” he said as quoted by BBC Sports News.
Roger Black acknowledged that his experience as an athlete helped him approach the situation with mental resilience.
“As an athlete, you control what you can, so I could control how I felt going into it, also I could be as fit as possible, so I was prepared,” he added.
Black intends to take things slow for the next couple of years as he uses his experience to raise awareness.
“I’m fortunate and very grateful, so I would encourage anyone, if they are out of breath or not sure, to just get checked out. The symptoms are really subtle, shortness of breath and fatigue. I had fatigue, but I didn’t compute that would be part of it. I was just tired not sleeping well. But that awareness is important,” he explained
Since his operation, Black has received messages from individuals facing similar procedures, and he finds comfort in offering support.
“I have had so many lovely messages from people who have had the surgery or are preparing for it, so being able to chat to people nervous about it has been great. If I can help raise awareness, then it’s a pleasure.”
