How a debilitating autoimmune diagnosis nearly ended one of history's greatest sprinting careers
In short: Gail Devers dominated the track, winning back-to-back Olympic 100m gold medals. Yet, her path to greatness was nearly derailed by Graves' disease. After radiation treatment caused severe foot swelling that left her unable to walk, she defied the odds to return to the world stage and cement her legendary status.
Born in 1966, Gail Devers emerged as a premier talent in the 100m and 100m hurdles. Her trajectory toward the 1988 Summer Olympics was interrupted by mysterious health issues, including migraines and vision loss. By 1990, she received a diagnosis of Graves' disease. The subsequent treatment involved radioactive iodine and thyroid hormone therapy, which triggered a painful side effect: severe blistering and swelling in her feet. At her lowest point, she could barely walk, casting doubt on her future in elite athletics.
Remarkably, Devers recovered once the radiation therapy ceased. She returned to competition with renewed intensity, winning silver at the 1991 World Championships. Her resilience culminated at the 1992 Summer Olympics, where she won gold in the 100m after a photo finish. She repeated this feat in 1996, becoming the first woman since Wyomia Tyus to defend an Olympic 100m title. Throughout her career, she also secured multiple world titles in the 100m hurdles and the 60m, proving her versatility across different distances.
Beyond her speed, Devers was known for her exceptionally long, decorated fingernails, which she grew as a child to break a nail-biting habit. These nails were so distinctive that she had to adjust her starting position in the blocks to accommodate them. Her career longevity was equally impressive; in 2007, at age 40, she clocked a world-leading 7.86 seconds in the 60m hurdles at the Millrose Games. Her journey from near-disability to the National Track and Field Hall of Fame remains a testament to her enduring physical and mental fortitude.
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