During the Olympic Games, the media report on dozens of amazing personal interest stories. One of the best stories this year chronicled the perseverance of Jeanette Bolden, the coach of the US women’s track team. In a recent article titled “Going for Gold with Asthma” in Allergy & Asthma Today, freelance writer Kimberlee Roth tells the story of Bolden’s personal battle with asthma. As a young person, Bolden struggled with her asthma and her desire to run track. Through a variety of techniques and strength of character Bolden was able to make two Olympic track teams as a runner; and in 2008, she was one of the American track coaches at the Beijing Olympics.

Bolden started running track in high school. Soon, she was running well and winning races. In spite of her success, she faced a constant struggle to manage her asthma. One attack before a track meet during her junior year was very debilitating and forced her to spend time in the hospital. “It was a big setback mentally. Here I am running and accomplishing a lot and winning races and getting written up in the newspaper in my small town, and I’m in the hospital and cannot breathe. That was a reality check,” said Bolden. Bolden needed to come to grips with her asthma and learn to manage her condition better.

With her doctors, she developed a warm-up routine for practice and track meets that focused on keeping her asthma in check. She would always keep her inhaler nearby. Being prepared to combat the symptoms of asthma is important for every teenager not just athletes. When traveling to meets, Bolden did her research. She looked for the locations of nearby hospitals and pharmacists. She always carried ample medications, and had her doctor’s telephone numbers and other emergency numbers with her at all times. Her vigilance paid off with athletic achievements. She made the US Olympic team in 1980 and 1984. In 2007, her career came full circle when she was named as the head coach for USA’s women’s track and field team that competed in Beijing.

The air quality in Beijing was a major concern; and one of our leading companies, IQ Air, supplied high quality air purifiers to the US team. For athletes who perform at a high level, particularly for those like Bolden, having air purifiers on hand was very helpful. Bolden knows first hand the intensity of an asthma attack. “What will the air quality be like? Will I be able to do my job properly?” Bolden asked herself before the Olympics. By having a strategy to control her environment and by taking on the responsibility of managing her asthma, Bolden is an inspiration to young people struggling with their own breathing worries. About her message to young people with asthma, she says, “I try to instill determination. I talk to them about choices: You choose to write your own story as someone who’s very determined or someone who settles for mediocrity. Me, I’ve never been one to settle for mediocrity.”