Yesterday on the Team Novo Nordisk website they published a great article about 2016 Olympic hopeful and Team Novo Nordisk member Tommy Neal. I had heard about Tommy Neal before this I read this article, I didn't know his entire story however. I just figured he was diagnosed while in grade school and had managed his diabetes much better than I did while he was in his high school and college years. After reading the article I was shocked at his story as an athlete and as a diabetic.
Tommys story is what makes me love everything about Team Novo Nordisk. Each team member has their own story just like every diabetic in the world has their own unique story. After reading the article I imagined that I was Tommy, would I have the work ethic that he has had? Honestly, I don't think I would, I don't know many people that would fight like he has to get back to the elite level that they were once at physically. We all complain about diabetes and how our diagnosis came at the wrong time, how it changed our lives and took things away from us. Tommy was on the doorstep of realizing his dream and then he was diagnosed with diabetes, two months before the biggest race of his life. Diabetes came out fighting and it seems that it gave Tommy quite the challenge early on, rather than complaining and giving in to his diabetes he found what worked best for him. It didn't happen over night, Tommy had to fight and claw to get back to where he was before his diabetes diagnosis. Now he is back at the doorstep of his dream and he is stronger and better than he was just two years ago.
Tommy will not be the first diabetic to compete in the Olympics (He has yet to qualify but this writer believes that he will be racing in the 2016 Olympic Games) but for me he will be the only olympian that I have ever truly cared and rooted for. Tommy is what diabetes is all about, Tommy is what life is about. It is about fighting and getting up after being knocked down, I love that Tommy is a diabetic and yet another role model for not just me but diabetics and diabetic athletes all over the world. If Tommy wasn't a diabetic he would be just another runner at the 2016 Olympics, I would hear his story and think thats nice, I hope he does well. Diabetes changes all of that, I feel that Tommy and I have a common bond. I love that I can a show video of Tommy running at the olympics to my children one day. I love that they will watch the video and I will be telling them "See diabetes isn't bad, Daddy is fine as long as he takes care of himself. If diabetes was a bad disease it wouldn't allow someone to run in the Olympics right "Sharkie" and "Minnie Mouse"? Thank you Tommy, I wish you the best of luck and I can't wait to see you with an olympic medal around your neck!!
Tommys story is what makes me love everything about Team Novo Nordisk. Each team member has their own story just like every diabetic in the world has their own unique story. After reading the article I imagined that I was Tommy, would I have the work ethic that he has had? Honestly, I don't think I would, I don't know many people that would fight like he has to get back to the elite level that they were once at physically. We all complain about diabetes and how our diagnosis came at the wrong time, how it changed our lives and took things away from us. Tommy was on the doorstep of realizing his dream and then he was diagnosed with diabetes, two months before the biggest race of his life. Diabetes came out fighting and it seems that it gave Tommy quite the challenge early on, rather than complaining and giving in to his diabetes he found what worked best for him. It didn't happen over night, Tommy had to fight and claw to get back to where he was before his diabetes diagnosis. Now he is back at the doorstep of his dream and he is stronger and better than he was just two years ago.
Tommy will not be the first diabetic to compete in the Olympics (He has yet to qualify but this writer believes that he will be racing in the 2016 Olympic Games) but for me he will be the only olympian that I have ever truly cared and rooted for. Tommy is what diabetes is all about, Tommy is what life is about. It is about fighting and getting up after being knocked down, I love that Tommy is a diabetic and yet another role model for not just me but diabetics and diabetic athletes all over the world. If Tommy wasn't a diabetic he would be just another runner at the 2016 Olympics, I would hear his story and think thats nice, I hope he does well. Diabetes changes all of that, I feel that Tommy and I have a common bond. I love that I can a show video of Tommy running at the olympics to my children one day. I love that they will watch the video and I will be telling them "See diabetes isn't bad, Daddy is fine as long as he takes care of himself. If diabetes was a bad disease it wouldn't allow someone to run in the Olympics right "Sharkie" and "Minnie Mouse"? Thank you Tommy, I wish you the best of luck and I can't wait to see you with an olympic medal around your neck!!
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