Athlete Interview: Aden Fajardo
The respiratory system is essential to every sport. Whether it’s for running, throwing, kicking, or maneuvering around the court or field, every athlete relies on their respiratory strength to keep them moving. But how does asthma, a condition which causes inflammation of the airways, affect performance for athletes? Aden Fajardo, Arcadia High School athlete, discusses his experience with asthma in this interview.
Questions:
What sport(s) do you play? How long have you been playing it(them) for?
Currently, I am in track & field, but before I played basketball and soccer. I played soccer for 3 years and basketball for 8 years starting at the age of 6.
How has your condition impacted your ability to perform (physically and mentally)?
Having asthma has impacted my ability to run for a long duration of time. At times, I would have a hard time breathing during my game and I’d have to be substituted out of it. When I would be resting, I would be using my inhaler to relieve the pressure inside of my lungs. Being on the bench and taking time away from sports because of my asthma made me sad and I wished I didn’t have asthma; I had always tried to push through, but it was mentally and physically challenging – pushing past my limits would only make it worse.
What was your worst/scariest experience with asthma in athletics?
There wasn’t really an extremely scary experience with my asthma in athletics, it would always be the same thing happening. As I’ve mentioned before, it would be hard for me to breathe during the games. I would ask to be subbed out and it would feel like my lungs would be closing up.
What advice would you give to those dealing with asthma who are in sports?
I would advise those with asthma to take breathing treatments and listen to your body. Take the time to rest and use your inhaler frequently when your asthma is getting worse. Resting is the best way to recover and take as much time as you need to get back into shape.
Aden continues to persevere in sports despite his struggles with asthma. He hopes to make a good first impression for the upcoming track & field season by hitting some great marks in long jump, high jump, and throws. To manage his asthma during track, Aden will make sure to use his inhaler before competing and drink a sufficient amount of water to stay healthy throughout the season.