REBECCA Adlington has revealed she has been given a life-changing diagnosis in an emotional post.
The BBC Sports presenter, 36, who shot to fame as an Olympic swimmer, is battling coeliac disease – a debilitating autoimmune disorder.
Retired Olympic swimmer Rebecca revealed her diagnosis in a video this week as she urged people to sign a petition for gluten free prescriptions.
She said: “Hello everyone. As someone newly diagnosed with coeliac disease, I have definitely quickly learnt how vital gluten free prescriptions are for managing this condition.
“But in some areas, these prescriptions are totally being cut.
“Coeliac UK is handing a petition to Number 10 to make sure we’re heard, so please sign and share the petition today.”
The video, posted by Coeliac UK, was captioned: “On Wednesday 19 March, we delivered the petition directly to 10 Downing Street, presenting our call for action to the UK Government.”
They also added: “We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who signed the petition, helping us push this crucial cause forward, and to all those who supported our campaign, including the brilliant @beckadlington, for her incredible backing.“
Reacting to the post, one person penned: “Yes @beckadlington. thanks for helping to raise awareness. Gluten free food should be affordable and accessible to EVERYONE who needs it.”
Another added: “So good to have someone famous helping to raise awareness. Well done Becky.”
“Let’s keep raising awareness x thank you Rebecca xx,” said a third.
According to the NHS, coeliac disease is a “condition where your immune system attacks your own tissues when you eat gluten”.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington urges all parents to think about the colour of their kids’ swimwear” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6355709619112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]The health provider notes how this then “damages your gut (small intestine) so your body cannot properly take in nutrients”.
Symptoms of the disease include bloating, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
The adverse reaction to gluten means those with the disease should avoid foods containing wheat, barley and rye.
When the athlete starred in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2013, her family spoke out about a medical condition she had – which at the time prevented her from doing certain Bushtucker Trials.
Her auntie, Sonia Adlington, revealed that all the family are aware of what is wrong with Rebecca.
Her uncle Tony then told The Daily Mirror: “We have been sworn to secrecy.
“Becky wants the public to know why she is being excused. We wish the producers would say the reason.”
Her aunt added at the time: “It’s not Becky’s choice.
“She wants to do the challenges – even eating grubs – but she is not allowed to do some of them on doctor’s orders.”
It was later revealed that the reason for her being excused from Bushtucker Trials was because she had anxiety.
“I have an anxiety disorder specific to confined underground spaces, and I’ve had panic attacks in the past,” she told the Daily Mail in December 2013 after her jungle exit.
“I disclosed that in my medical before I went into the jungle.”
She added: We were never aware in advance what the trials were. It was up to the doctors to exempt people. It really was no big deal.”
Olympic gold medal winner Becky is now a media personality, sharing her expertise as a BBC pundit at major sporting events.
Before analysing elite swimmers, Becky was a force of nature in the pool.
Aged just 19, she was selected for Team GB at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and won gold in the 400m and 800m freestyle event.
She became the first woman to win swimming gold for GB for 48 years, and the first British swimmer to win more than one gold medal at a games for 100 years.
In her Olympic swansong, Becky became a part of GB folklore after winning bronze in the 400m and 800m freestyle at London 2012, before announcing her retirement from the sport aged just 23.
In 2008, she claimed the Sports Journalists’ Association’s Sportswoman of the Year award and the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award.
She was also awarded an OBE in 2009 for her work both in and out of sport.
