Type 1 Diabetics in the Paris 2024 Olympics

No matter what team, athlete, or event you followed in the Paris 2024 Olympics, if you have diabetes, you were probably rooting for Team T1D. Okay, maybe we made that up. But as type 1 diabetics, we love to see people like us competing at the highest level. They may come from different countries and compete in different sports, but the type 1 diabetics that competed at the Olympics are undaunted by the challenges diabetes throws their way. Their stories are inspiring to people with diabetes around the world, showing that the sky’s the limit for what we can achieve.

Did you follow any type 1 diabetics competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics? We sure did! Here’s a round-up of diabetic Olympians, some of whom competed in or attended the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Sofie Schunk

Sofie Schunk has been running with the highs and lows of diabetes since she was diagnosed at age 16. Her story is relatable – for example, shortly after her diagnosis, a blood sugar spike from eating a pear left her in tears, as she realized that her life would never be the same.

Schunk is open about both the frustrations and triumphs she’s experienced living with diabetes. One of those triumphs was running in the Olympic Trials marathon, becoming the third diabetic in history to qualify for the trials. Schunk was athletic from a young age, playing soccer and running for her high school’s track and field team. Learning to manage her blood sugars while running took time, but she steadily got faster until the Olympic Trials became a realistic goal.

Schunk was excited to be among the best runners in the country participating in the marathon, but when the day came, she knew she wasn’t at her best. She was dealing with shin pain and ended up finishing in last place. But she chose to focus on the positive. “It may have not been my day to race against those competitors, but it was my day to show up, finish and inspire other kids, parents and anyone living with diabetes that we don’t have to let this disease stop us,” she said in a quote from an article by Sandia Lab News. “We can go out there with grace and try even if we don’t always get the outcome we want. We can’t quit.”

Aside from her running career, Schunk is a full-time engineer. She formerly worked for Dexcom, where she received three patents in glucose monitor technology.

Alexander Zverev

Alexander Zverev is no stranger to the Olympics. The German tennis star won a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and returned to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. He currently ranks world No. 4 for men’s singles by ATP.

Zverev was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at three years old, and from a young age doctors told him that he couldn’t be a professional athlete. He was determined to prove them wrong – and he’s succeeded! He’s now known worldwide as one of the best tennis players in the world.

It wasn’t easy for Zverev to speak out about having diabetes. He didn’t want it to be an excuse for his performance on the court. But in recent years he’s become more outspoken, even starting his own foundation to help kids with type 1 diabetes. In a quote on the foundation’s website, he says, “I want to show that you can go a long way with this disease.

I want to be a role model for children who already have the disease, but also a support for those people who can still avoid getting type 2 diabetes with an active life and proper prevention.”

Zverev is also raising awareness about diabetes in the sports world, as he regularly injects insulin and checks his blood sugar during his matches. Although at times he’s been asked to leave the court to administer insulin, he’s defended his position that he should be allowed to inject his insulin during matches since it’s necessary for his well being. While it’s unfortunate that stigmas around diabetes and injections exist, these discussions can pave the way for other athletes with type 1 diabetes to receive fair treatment and be allowed to take necessary insulin shots while participating in athletic events.

Stephanie Ratcliffe

Stephanie Ratcliffe is an Australian hammer thrower who competed in the Paris 2024 Olympics. She gave it her all, finishing in 15th place. She’s an NCAA champion and broke the Australian national record in the discipline.

But Ratcliffe’s achievements go beyond athleticism. She’s just as talented and hard-working in the academic world. She has a Harvard degree in neuroscience and is studying her Master’s in Business Analytics at the University of Georgia.

Training for the olympics while working on a master’s degree is a lot to juggle for most people. Add to that list managing type 1 diabetes, and we think Ratcliffe deserves all the medals. She was diagnosed at age 6, but thanks to her parents encouragement, she never let diabetes get in the way of her life goals. Speaking about his daughter, Ratcliffe’s father David wrote to Diabetes Australia, “We’d like children living with type 1 diabetes and their parents to know that while this condition comes with challenges to get to her level, type 1 will not stop you achieving your dreams.”

There’s no doubt Ratcliffe is proving to the world that no achievements are out of reach for type 1 diabetics.

Noortje de Brouwer

Noortje de Brouwer is another medal winner for Team T1D! The Dutch swimmer won a bronze medal in the women’s duet artistic swimming event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Just four months before the Games, de Brouwer collapsed from dehydration, which led to her diagnosis with type 1 diabetes. Thankfully, her doctors encouraged her to continue and told her that she could do anything as a diabetic, including pursue her olympic goals.

Despite the recent diagnosis, de Brouwer went on to win the first medal in artistic swimming for the Netherlands, alongside her twin sister and swimming partner Bregje.

Mateusz Rudyk

Mateusz Rudyk is a Polish cyclist who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, despite facing a suspension for use of prohibited substances.

The prohibited substance in question was Rudyk’s insulin, which he needs to treat his type 1 diabetes. That’s right! Insulin is a prohibited substance for healthy athletes. Type 1 diabetic athletes need to get a therapeutic exemption if they want to compete while taking insulin. Rudyk’s exemption had expired, and it almost cost him his trip to Paris. Fortunately, the correct documents were obtained and everything was sorted out in time for him to compete.

Rudyk was diagnosed at 12 years old. In a quote from the Olympics official website, he says about his diagnosis, “It was difficult to deal with it, and I had to stop training for a few months. But it was a great test of character and perseverance for me. It can be a heavy burden because when others warm up, I have to think about and control the disease. It doesn’t help but after so many years of living with the condition, I have learned to live with it. I also saw that being a diabetic, you can both function normally and be a good athlete.”

Rudyk is also part of Team Novo Nordisk, a team of pro cyclists who all have type 1 diabetes. The team’s mission is to inspire and educate people with type 1 diabetes to live the life they choose and pursue their dreams.

Historical T1D Olympians

Gary Hall Jr.

Gary Hall Jr. is a three time-Olympian swimmer for Team USA and a ten-time Olympic medalist. He was the first type 1 diabetic to win a medal at the Olympics.

Now retired, Hall Jr. focuses on diabetes advocacy, coaching, and his swim school, Sea Monkeys Swimming.

“I am proud to let the world know that a person living with a potentially devastating chronic health condition can also be the fastest swimmer in the world and make it into the Olympic Hall of Fame,” said Hall Jr. in an interview with Future of Personal Health. “Ultimately, that makes a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis a little less scary for some kid and their family. That is something that I can be proud of.”

You can read more about Hall Jr.’s story here.

Charlotte Drury

Charlotte Drury is an American trampoline gymnast who was in attendance at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She won the gold medal for trampoline in the 2014 Minsk World Cup and was selected as an alternate at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She was diagnosed with diabetes just weeks before the 2020 Olympic trials. Recently her focus has shifted from competing to photography.

We included Drury’s story in our blog post Professional Athletes with Diabetes, which you can read here.

Here at Not Just A Patch, we’re proud of all of the type 1 diabetics that were at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Regardless of their results, they’re winners to us and diabetics everywhere. Go Team T1D!

At NJAP, we love supporting athletes with type 1 diabetes. We make patches that are lightweight, breathable, and durable to keep your devices in place. If you’re an athlete using a CGM, check out our patches here.