Sanya Richards won’t let the return of rare illness slow her quest to win 1st major title

Return of illness doesn’t sidetrack Richards

BERLIN — This was a crucial test for Sanya Richards’ confidence.

Not because she was racing against Olympic gold medalist Christine Ohuruogu, the sprinter who blazed right past Richards in Beijing.

No, the first round of the 400 meters at the world championships on Saturday was more of a health check.

Richards is in the midst of another flare-up from Behcet’s syndrome, a rare disorder that causes chronic inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body.

She’s covered in lesions — on her legs, her stomach and inside her mouth.

They’re painful enough. But even more troublesome is that the disease leaves her feeling fatigued.

That wasn’t the case in her opening-round showdown with Ohuruogu. Richards was strong through the first 300 meters and then glided in to win her heat in 51.06 seconds, beating the British runner by 0.24 seconds.

“My legs felt very strong coming home,” said Richards, who won the bronze in Beijing after fading near the finish. “That’s how I like to feel.”

That gave her a measure of confidence.

“Now I know I can run with it or without it,” Richards said of the illness. “I feel good and that’s the most important thing.”

The first time the disease erupted was in March 2007. The ulcers inside her mouth and up and down her legs were so bad that Richards couldn’t talk, eat or stretch to run, causing her to withdraw from several competitions.

She entered the U.S. championships that season still struggling with the disease. She finished fourth in the 400, the only time she lost all season. She did manage to qualify for worlds in the 200.

Still, Richards watched from the sidelines as Ohuruogu won gold at the 2007 worlds in Osaka, Japan.

That’s why Richards considers Ohuruogu the runner to beat, even though Richards has posted six of the 10 fastest times in the world this season.

“At the top of my charts is definitely Christine,” Richards said.

Having Ohuruogu in the same heat as her only added a little more spice. Richards was out to win this race, preparing to dig in deep if forced to at the finish.

And yes, there was a message being sent.

“If Christine was ahead of me, if I had energy, I was going to try to overtake her,” Richards said. “I am carefully watching my competition. As I finished only third in last year’s Olympics, my coach and me have changed some slight things about my race in order to make the gold happen this year.”

The outbreak of the disease couldn’t come at a worse time for Richards, but she’s learned how to cope with Behcet’s. It’s become almost more of a mental hurdle than a physical one.

“Before, it used to totally freak me out and be an additional burden on my mind,” said Richards, who treats the disease through medication.

Stress only makes the illness worse. So she’s vowing to remain pressure free.

Or as much as she can given the circumstances.

“If I stay relaxed and not make it a big issue, I don’t get as many (lesions) or it doesn’t affect me as bad,” Richards said.

As dominant as Richards has been in the 400 over her career, she has never won a major championship. It’s a piece missing from her resume that she’s quite aware of.

“I’m trying not to make it be pressure, trying to make it fun,” the five-time U.S. outdoor champion said. “I’ve run really well. I don’t feel too much pressure this season.”

This summer hasn’t been just about track. After all, she has a wedding to plan.

Richards is getting married to New York Giants defensive back Aaron Ross in late February. She has a dress picked out, but is leaving all the little details to a wedding consultant.

Maybe a red-white-and-blue-themed wedding?

“No. And no sports, either,” Richards said, laughing. “This is just about Aaron and I.”