Olympic Sprinter Beth Dobbin Bedbound for 22 Hours Daily Due to ME

Posted : 17 October 2026

Former Great Britain Olympic sprinter Beth Dobbin has revealed the devastating impact of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), a chronic illness that now keeps her in bed for more than 22 hours a day. The 32-year-old represented Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but says her condition has taken away her independence, ability to work and passion for exercise.

Dobbin now gets out of bed mainly to eat and use the bathroom. She has left her home only five times in 2026. Even short conversations, bright lights and loud sounds can trigger severe symptom flare-ups that may last for days or, in serious cases, months.

Despite the risk of worsening her health, Dobbin chose to speak publicly about her experience to increase awareness of ME. She explained that even attending a blood test had previously left her in bed for months. She worries that the interview itself could have consequences for her health well into 2027.

Her symptoms began after she contracted COVID-19 and glandular fever during the winter of 2021-22. At first, she noticed increased sleep, slower running times and soreness around her neck and armpits. Medical tests initially failed to identify the cause, and she continued competing while her condition deteriorated.

During the 2022 athletics season, Dobbin struggled with a painful throat at the World Championships and dizziness at the Commonwealth Games. At the European Championships, she false-started after losing feeling in her legs while in the starting blocks. Her health worsened after the season, and several specialists eventually identified ME as the likely explanation for her symptoms.

ME can cause severe, persistent exhaustion that does not improve with rest, alongside pain, sleep disturbances and problems with memory and concentration. There is currently no known cure, and treatment options remain limited. Dobbin has criticised the term chronic fatigue syndrome, saying it does not adequately describe the severity of her condition.

The former sprinter also described the difficulties her family faces as they try to support her. Her father, Jim, and mother, Jean, have expressed concern about the lack of treatment options and uncertainty surrounding her future. Dobbin said she waited 22 months for a face-to-face appointment with a private specialist after her British Athletics funding ended.

Her younger sister, Faye, is due to run the Yorkshire Marathon on Sunday to raise funds for ME Research UK. The family hopes the effort will help support research into the condition and improve understanding of the challenges faced by patients.

Dobbin believes the increased attention surrounding long COVID has helped bring greater medical and public interest to illnesses with overlapping symptoms. She also hopes that speaking as a former elite athlete will help others whose symptoms are often misunderstood or dismissed.

She says she wants people to recognise that ME is far more than ordinary tiredness. For Dobbin, raising awareness has become one way to support others living with the illness, even as she continues to face severe daily limitations.

Olympic Sprinter Beth Dobbin Bedbound for 22 Hours Daily Due to ME

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