Track icons write stories that go beyond usual wins and podium finishes. Such is the story of track and field twins Laviai Nielsen (sprinter) and Lina Nielsen (hurdler). Hailing from Britain, the 27-year-old siblings have added multiple accolades to their wall of fame all while defying the odds. However, no matter how many accolades they have bagged individually, one common instance binds the sisters with the same string.

Multiple Sclerosis, a condition where the protective covering of nerves gets damaged by the immune system, showed up in the Nielsen sisters’ lives. But the harrowing disease, though it bears the capability of crushing dreams, couldn’t plague the athletes’ careers. Interestingly, the Nielsen sisters are all girded up to leave their mark in Glasgow, giving their fandom a spectacle to behold at the World Indoor Championships.

Lina and Laviai Nielsen on their path to the World Indoor Championships

Sharing Nielsen sisters’ incredible feat, BBC sports took their X handle and added, “What a journey it’s been for Lina and Laviai Nielsen. The twin sisters, who both have MS, will compete at the World Indoor Championships for the first time.”

Paired with this caption is a smiling picture of the siblings, which features the quote, “People talk about having to travel a rocky road with lots of highs and lows but I feel like we’ve climbed mountains to be where we are.”

Though Lina issued this statement, we can assume that Laviai seconds her. According to her revelation in August 2022, Lina Nielsen said that her MS started bugging in the summer of 2021 following a diagnosis. But this condition wasn’t limited to only one member of the family.

Both sisters have taken close to a second off their indoor 400m personal bests. Laviai clocked 51.11 seconds and clinched fifth positions in the rankings for the Glasgow event. “After I ran 51.1, I was sitting on a plane back to Denmark thinking ‘I don’t know if I’m making the right decision’. Every fibre of my being was telling me to go to the World Indoors,” added Laivai. She continued, “We still think I can go a lot faster so I don’t want to shy away from the possibility of a medal.”

Considered as something that runs in the genes, MS poses difficulty in proper functioning. But the sisters refused to let this hinder their way. Hoping to stand on the relay podium, the sisters are eyeing the Olympics.

The Nielsen sisters look forward to Paris with high-spirits

Lina’s MS was under wraps until recently she unveiled on her sister’s revelation. Since then, they have taken the disease seriously, thus focusing on ‘ diet and nutrition’. But their common goal is nothing but to make the same relay team at the Olympics. “There have been so many setbacks along the way. It’s the nature of sport – it is cut-throat. Sometimes you need luck on your side”, said Lina.

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Now, after they faced the hardest blow, have resorted to each other. Having missed out on their World Athletics Championships’ luck two times already, the sisters hope that 3 will be their lucky number. This weekend, the siblings will represent Great Britain in the 4 x 100m team at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, looking forward to bringing victory to the nation.

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