Tiffany Stratton has revealed she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis as a child, a condition she quietly battled throughout her elite gymnastics career while continuing to push through pain to pursue her Olympic dreams. Speaking on The Nikki and Brie Show, Stratton opened up about the physical toll her gymnastics career took on her body and how her arthritis diagnosis added another layer to an already demanding path.
“I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis as a little girl,” Stratton said. “I always had so much grit in me to just pound it out. No matter how much pain I felt I still was just going to be giving it my all in gymnastics.”
Stratton described gymnastics as brutally demanding on her body, noting that the injuries she sustained during her years competing as an elite gymnast played a significant role in her eventual decision to step away from the sport. “I had so many nagging injuries, I don’t think you guys understand, like it was so brutal on my body,” Stratton said. “Wrestling is hard on my body, but not in a way that gymnastics was.”
Stratton said she ultimately made peace with leaving gymnastics behind and has never looked back. “I never felt like, oh, I miss gymnastics. Not even a little bit,” Stratton said. “It just doesn’t serve me anymore. I found a new passion. When I make my decision there is no going back. I’m not going to look back, I’m not going to reminisce, I’m not going to dwell.”
Stratton went on to compete at the elite level of gymnastics before transitioning to CrossFit and bodybuilding ahead of eventually signing with WWE.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Nikki and Brie Show with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
