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| Think you can't win the race, dunk the ball, score the goal, swim the lap, sing at the top of your lungs, dance around a stage or be an effective leader just because you have asthma? Think again! The following superstars have all achieved greatness while living with asthma and you can too! |
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Sports Figures |
Celebrities |
Musicians |
Political Figures |
Kids Like You and Me |
Others
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More Sports Figures
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 Justine Henin
25-year-old Belgian tennis player Justine Henin, currently ranked the number 1 tennis player in the world, has won over 40 career titles including the Grand Slam singles, French Open, Australian Open and U.S. Open. She also earned the gold medal in singles at the 2004 Summer Olympics. After admitting to struggling at the U.S. Open, Henin consulted a specialist who diagnosed her with asthma. She now follows a treatment plan to keep her symptoms under control, and she's hopeful she'll be able to compete at the top of her game during the upcoming Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Wikipedia Link | USA Today Link | UK Reuters Link
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 Jan Ullrich
A German professional road bicycle racer, in 1997 he was the first German to win the Tour de France. He controls his asthma using sprays and pills, and cortisone when it's really bad.
Wikipedia Link |
 Alison Streeter
Referred to as "Queen of the English Channel", Streeter has swum the English Channel more times than anyone else in the world. She swam it for the first time two days after her 18th birthday. As a child, Streeter suffered from severe asthma and a doctor suggested that some form of regular exercise might help alleviate her symptoms. Her parents enrolled her in her local swimming club, and the rest is history!
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More Celebrities
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 Lindsey Lohan
An actress and pop singer, Lohan's debut role was playing identical twins in Disney's 1988 remake of The Parent Trap. She has since starred in many popular films, as well as released two albums, Speak (2004) and A Little More personal (2005). Lohan has had asthma since childhood.
Wikipedia Link |
 Paul Sorvino
An Italian-American actor who generally portrays both good and bad authority figures, Sorvino has severe asthma and has worked hard at mastering various breathing techniques to manage his condition and not let it interfere with his career and lifestyle. Sorvino started the Sorvino Asthma Foundation.
Wikipedia Link |
 Diane Keaton
An award-winning actress, director and producer, audiences love Keaton: her films have cumulatively grossed over USD 1.1 billion n North America. Also a photographer, real estate developer and occasional singer, Keaton had adult-onset asthma.
Wikipedia Link |
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More Musicians
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 Antonio Vivaldi
A Venetian priest, baroque music composer and prodigy violinist, Vivaldi suffered from asthma. His condition, however, did not prevent him from playing the violin and enjoying all his beloved musical activities.
Wikipedia Link |
 Wynonna Judd
Judd, a country music singer, began her career in the 1980's as the lead singer of her and her mother's duo group, The Judds. In 1991, after her mother retired, she launched a solo career. Judd has had asthma since she was 12-years-old and although she didn't take proper care of herself when she was younger - she admits to playing shows even when she didn't feel her best - she now is adamant about her health and has her condition under control. Though during her concerts she often uses her inhaler between songs when the lights are lowered, Judd advises asthma sufferers not to rely solely on inhalers. Rather, she says it's important that patients stringently follow the treatment plans laid for them by their doctors.
Wikipedia Link |
 Liza Minnelli
A remarkable actress and singer, Minnelli, who won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Cabaret, is the daughter of legendary actress and singer, Judy Garland, and film director, Vincent Minnelli. Her professional career started at age 17 when she performed Off-Broadway, and by the time she was 19-years-old, she won a Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway show, Flora the Red Menace. Her career is still going strong today!
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More Political Figures
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 Walter Mondale
The forty-second Vice President of the United States and former ambassador to Japan, Mondale didn't let his asthma stop him from serving as a corporal in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Wikipedia Link |
 Bill Clinton
An avid runner and passionate about playing the saxophone, Clinton, the forty-second President of the United States, has never let his asthma prevent him from partaking in the activities he enjoys or leading the country!
Wikipedia Link |
 John F. Kennedy
Although he suffered from many illnesses, including asthma, Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, always appeared strong and rugged and enjoyed working out and playing sports with his family.
Wikipedia Link |
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More Kids Like You and Me
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 Natalia Festa
Natalia, a competitive swimmer, was diagnosed with asthma at age 11 but, she didn't let that stop her from qualifying to compete at the USS Junior and Senior National Championships. At Junior Nationals, she finished 8th in the 50 yard backstroke and 12th in the 100 yard backstroke. Natalia is currently a college student and successfully competes for the Harvard swim team. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and family.
Video Link |
 Lenny Klipper
Lenny is a runner and a cyclist. Although he was diagnosed with asthma at age eight, Lenny has not let that hold him back from competing. He has participated in the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference as well as triathlons and marathons. Lenny is currently a college student majoring in architecture at the University of Pennsylvania.
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| *The people featured above may or may not endorse asthma awareness, but it's known that they have it. |
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