Gail Devers first found out she had Graves' Disease in 1989. Back then she should have been at my peak performance, but instead she was exhausted all of the time, and her body felt out of control. She suffered migraine headaches, sleeplessness, fainting spells, and frequent vision loss. For two-and-a-half years she went undiagnosed, and blamed her condition on the pressures of Olympic training.
When she learned she had a thyroid disorder, she was scared. Graves' Disease is a debilitating chronic thyroid disorder. During this time, her feet became so blistered and swollen, the skin cracked and bled. The excruciating pain forced her to stop running. The doctors were sure they would have to amputate both of her feet. But with her doctor's help and family support, she took control of her thyroid condition, and gained the strength and confidence she needed to win in Barcelona and Atlanta.
In 1993, Gail earned seven championship titles. After the world championships in Stuttgart, Germany, she accomplished a feat that hadn't been achieved in 45 years- She won both the 100-meter dash and 100-meter hurdles. In 1996, she won her second gold medal in the 100-meter dash.
