These Olympians Have Excelled Despite Serious Health Issues - Page 19 of 25

Amy Van Dyken – Swimming, USA

Amy Van Dyken has won a whopping six Olympic gold medals in her lifetime. What many don’t realize is that her initial interest in swimming was spurred by the need to increase her lung capacity…

Photo of Amy Van Dyken, swimmer who won Olympic gold despite suffering from asthme — PHOTO: WHEREARETHEYNOW.BUZZ

Van Dyken suffered from severe asthma as a child, and doctors recommended swimming to help her body take in more oxygen. This endeavor to simply improve her lung health eventually led to her astounding success in the Olympic arena.