Former British sprinter Beth Dobbin, who represented Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, says she is now largely bedbound after being diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). In interviews, she reports spending more than 22 hours a day in bed and leaving her home only a handful of times. Dobbin describes her situation as a prolonged period of severe health decline.
Across outlets, she explains that even minor activities—such as normal conversation or a doctor’s appointment—can trigger a “crash” that can last for months. Dobbin attributes the onset to illnesses including COVID-19 and glandular fever, and says the condition has affected her independence and day-to-day functioning. BBC Sport and BBC News note she has retired from competitive running, while other coverage highlights her description of feeling “days away from death,” reflecting her account of the illness’s intensity and lack of a cure.
