LINA NIELSEN: I Was Paralysed at 17 - Then I Won an Olympic Medal

Lina Nielsen is an Olympic sprinter and hurdler who has overcome incredible challenges to reach the top of her sport.

Growing up in East London, Lina got the chance to be a kit carrier at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Seeing the world’s greatest athletes up close made her dream of competing in the Olympics one day too.

But when she was just 17, Lina was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis after the right side of her body became paralysed. She thought her Olympic dream was over.

It wasn’t.

In our conversation, Lina shares how she defied the odds to achieve her dreams, what it took to get there and what she's aiming for next.

In this episode, Lina shares:

• Her incredible journey to Olympic bronze
• Growing up without her dad and its impact on her relationships
• Being diagnosed with MS at 17
• The misconceptions about MS she's determined to break down
• Learning to accept her diagnosis without letting it define her

Lina’s story is a powerful reminder that the labels we’re given don't define what's possible.

Lina Nielsen is Great Company.

Lina will be competing in the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships in August. You can buy tickets HERE! https://tickets.birmingham26.com/

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:

Instagram- @greatcompanypodcast

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Jamie - @jamielaing

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: greatcompany@jampotproductions.co.uk

THE CREDITS

Producers: Helen Burke & Dan King

Assistant Producer: Issy Weeks-Hankins

Video: Josh Bennett

Senior Social Media Manager: Laura Coughlan

Audio: Rafi Amsili Geovannetti

Executive Producer: Ewan Newbigging-Lister

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot.

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