An Inspirational Journey from Ehlers-Danlos Diagnosis to Paralympic Silver Medalist

The Paris Olympics and Paralympics were held this summer. We had the privilege of seeing the world's best athletes perform at the highest level, which left an indelible impression on all of us. Every four years, we look forward to this event, and this year was one of the best. We watched with excitement, pride, and occasionally felt the adrenaline that the athletes must have been feeling.

Among these incredible athletes, Grace Nuhfer stood out as a true inspiration. Grace was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome 14 years ago, when she was only seven. Despite the difficulties associated with this disorder, Grace accomplished something remarkable at this year's Paralympics in Paris: she won a silver medal in the 100-meter butterfly race.

In a previous post, we mentioned swimming as one of the safest and most beneficial sports for people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Grace’s story (and her sister who also has EDS) exemplifies this. “Growing up, my sister and I weren’t allowed to play any sports with balls, bats, or rackets because our genetic disorder makes our eyes extremely fragile. We tried running and dancing, but Ehlers-Danlos made things hard and painful, so swimming was the only option left. I’m really grateful I fell in love with it.”

Grace started swimming at the age of seven and hasn't looked back. Her dedication is evident not only in her hard work, but also in how she has transformed her challenges into strengths. As she stated in the same interview, "When I'm swimming, my vision prevents me from seeing anything but the black line at the bottom of the pool." She turned her vision limitation into an advantage for focus during competition, allowing her to win a silver medal. Her story demonstrates how hard work and determination can turn disadvantages into opportunities. We hope her story inspires others, and that more Paralympic champions with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome arise in the future. Were you able to see any of the Olympics this summer? Are there any sports you found you can tolerate better than others? Please share in the comments below!

Author: Ozan Soyer, M.D.