Imagine yourself learning to walk all over again after being diagnosed with a chronic disease. Even more so a disease that affects your nervous system! Only a few would think about turning to track and field as a means to regain mobility. After all, in such a grave situation, who would even think that starting first through jogging, then running, and eventually sprinting could lead to an Olympic bronze medal? All these things were made possible by the 28-year-old British athlete who, a few hours back, broke the women’s 300m record that was set by Dina Asher-Smith, also known as the fastest British woman on record. But who are we talking about?

It’s Lina Nielsen! She shaved 0.24 seconds off the previous record held by Dina, finishing in 36.53 seconds at the Keely Classic meeting at Birmingham to set a new British record. And let us tell you, it’s no small feat! Dina Asher-Smith has won bronze medals as part of 4×100 m relay teams in the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Thus, Nilsen moving past her is such a big achievement! And the 28-year-old Lina did it while battling with multiple sclerosis! An autoimmune disease that can flare up unpredictably, causing symptoms like fatigue, muscle soreness, limb weakness, and vision problems.

As reported by a user on X, Lina had an interview with Citius Magazine post-race, where she reflected on breaking the record, her new training setup, and her activism in raising awareness about MS. “I knew it was within my reach… There’s no room for pacing in the 300, just got to really go for it. Coming off the last bend, I knew I was kind of within that range. Tried myself in pacing, so I knew I got the pace kind of right. So it was just about making sure my knees were up at the end, because I was definitely starting to fade, and I’m happy,” Nielsen stated. And we are happy too! This feat also marked a massive personal best for Nielsen, as her previous record stood at 37.35 seconds, which was set by her in Louisville in 2022.

But she isn’t done yet! As she has her sights set on even greater achievements going further. “…..I’ve got big goals for the outdoors, big time goals, definitely want to make the world’s final, which I know I’m capable of. I just have to commit, so I’m glad I committed to that race today,” she added. And we have no doubts whatsoever! After being diagnosed with MS at 17, Nielsen initially feared that her dreams of competing in athletics were over. However, through perseverance and education, she learned to manage her condition and kept performing at the highest level. Her long list of honors includes a European U20 champion gold medal in 2015, a 2024 World Indoor Championships bronze medalist in 4×400, and a Paris Olympic Games bronze medalist in 4×400.

Thus, her journey is a testament to the power of resilience, proving that even with a chronic illness, elite athletic success is possible. As she sets her sights on the upcoming outdoor season, Nielsen will continue to inspire others with her record-breaking performances and undying determination. But Lina Nielsen wasn’t the only British athlete who set a record at the Keely Classic Meeting.

Along with Olympic medalist Lina Nielsen, another British athlete breaks an Indoor Record

Along with Lina Nielsen, the 2023 European Indoor Championship silver medalist Neil Gourley also set the British record for the fastest indoor in the 1000m category. He clocked two minutes and 16.74 seconds. Neil broke the record set by Charlie Grice (New York in 2020) by 0.46 seconds. However, this impressive feat didn’t help him to claim the gold, as Netherlands’ Samuel Chapple triumphed with a time of 2:16.09.

Gourley was outclassed on the final lap by Chapple, who also broke Rob Drupers’ Dutch record with 2:16.09 after taking a lead through 800m in 1:46.9. Oh boy! It seems we have entered a ‘record-breaking’ season. And we are loving it! Reflecting on his performance, Gourley told Athletics Weekly, “I feel like I’ve worked very hard today. I’ve felt tired this week but was committed to giving myself this hard effort, which will hopefully bring me on a bit. I have a lot of fitness behind me but not as much sharpness.”

Both Gourley and Nielsen showcased remarkable determination at Keely Klassic, defining that setbacks and physical challenges do not define an athlete’s potential. Their record-breaking performance will remain a motivation for aspiring athletes, proving that perseverance can lead to extraordinary achievements on track.