Roger Black: Olympian did not want heart issue to define career

Black said he had been inundated with messages and well-wishes since surgery – including from Michael Johnson, who beat him in the 1996 Olympic final, with Black saying the American was among the first to contact him.

After being diagnosed aged 11, Black had to get checked up every year at Southampton General Hospital. He said the only year he had not gone was in 1996, as he was worried he would be told not to compete at the Olympics.

Black admitted it was a shock to be told earlier this year that he needed surgery imminently.

“It’s a weird one. I didn’t have symptoms or feel ill, but I knew I had a problem,” he said. “I knew I would need a new valve, but I didn’t think it would be at 58 – I thought I would be a bit older.

“But I went down feeling fine and was told things had changed dramatically and I needed surgery. It was a real shock. I was really scared, but you have to hand over to the surgeons.

“As an athlete, you control what you can, so I could control how I felt going into it, also I could be as fit as possible. I knew about the recovery, so I was prepared.

“I woke up with so many tubes in me, I couldn’t move. But my biggest fear was not waking up, so just doing that was fantastic.”

Now Black is focused on recovery and “taking it easy for the next year or two” – and also wants to raise awareness for people, particularly of his age, to get checked for heart issues.

“I’m fortunate and very grateful, so I would encourage anyone, if they are out of breath or not sure, to just get checked out,” he said.

“The symptoms are really subtle – shortness of breath and fatigue. I had fatigue, but I didn’t compute that would be part of it. I was just tired – kids, life, not sleeping well. But that awareness is important. My nurse told me so many people who have my surgery go to their GP thinking they had asthma.

“I have had so many lovely messages from people who have had the surgery or are preparing for it, so being able to chat to people nervous about it has been great. If I can help raise awareness, then it’s a pleasure.”

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this story, support and advice is available via the BBC Action Line.