Kochi: Olympian Anju Bobby George told the world a closely guarded secret of 20 years on Monday. The World Athletics Championships bronze medalist took to Twitter to announce that she was born with only one kidney.
She said she broke her silence to help raise awareness and break stereotypes. “Everyone is distressed due to the pandemic and all the uncertainties resulting from it. The reason why I decided to share this now is in the hope that it offers some motivation during such times,” she told The New Indian Express (TNIE).
“Maybe it can help athletes who have some kind of trouble and are having self-doubts because of them. I was not recovering quickly. I would also faint sometimes due to allergies to medicines and pain-killers… at first, I was scared because I was seeing myself as this perfect athlete and had all these dreams,” she was quoted as saying.
Believe it or not, I’m one of the fortunate, among very few who reached the world top with a single KIDNEY, allergic with even a painkiller, with a dead takeoff leg.. Many limitations. still made it. Can we call, magic of a coach or his talent @KirenRijiju @afiindia @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/2kbXoH61BX
— Anju Bobby George (@anjubobbygeorg1) December 7, 2020
She herself discovered it after a training session in 2001 when her body was not giving her the right signals. She was taking more time to recover and there were fainting episodes because of allergies. Her doctor said she was born with only one kidney. The 23-year-old did not let that define her life. She altered her training regimen and lifestyle with the help of coach and husband, Robert Bobby George, the report added.
Weeks before the World Championships in 2003, she was not recovering after competitions. Experts told she would need six months’ rest. But Anju bounced back and made history.
