Twin sisters and MS Together ambassadors, Lina and Laviai Nielsen, took Paris by storm in the Olympics competing for Team GB.
2024 Olympics
The Olympics in Paris proved to be a success for Team GB as they came home with 65 medals, finishing in seventh place on the medal table. Twin sisters Lina and Laviai Nielsen were a part of this journey for the country as they competed in the last week of the competition in athletics.
Laviai was part of the Women's 4x400m relay race where they walked away victorious with Bronze medals. However, Lina unfortunately tripped during her 400m hurdles semi-final which meant she didn't place, but her sister and biggest supporter was there to help her up and across the finish line.
Who are Lina and Laviai Nielsen?
Lina was just 13 years old when she woke up and couldn’t move due to numbness down one side of her body. The numbness spread significantly and she began rehabilitation to help her mobility. It was initially believed that Lina had suffered a stroke, but years later at 17 years old, doctors diagnosed her with MS.
Fast forward to just days before the Olympics in Tokyo 2020, Laviai pulled out of the competition after reporting numbness, and was later also diagnosed with MS.
Speaking to Journalist Lucy Morgan after the Olympics this year, both sisters expressed that they wish to be a ‘beacon of hope’ for others living with MS and other chronic neurological conditions. Lina voiced "To anyone who is dealing with a chronic illness, whether that be rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes, it's not to stop you. It might slow you down, but it doesn't have to stop you. That's the kind of message that we want to spread".
The Nielsen twins mindset and determination is inspiring to the MS community and we wish them further success in the future.
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