Olympic legend Tessa Sanderson has spoken publicly about her struggle with hearing loss, revealing that the condition began over two decades ago and severely impacted her confidence. The 70-year-old, who won gold in the javelin at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, told the Mirror that she found herself 'pretending to understand' conversations, which left her feeling anxious and self-conscious.
Sanderson, the only British athlete to have won Olympic gold in a throwing event, said her hearing difficulties started in 2001. She described how she would struggle to follow conversations and feared being caught out. 'I became embarrassed and far less confident. That was totally alien to me,' she said. Despite having hearing aids fitted in 2016, they did not work for her, and she continued to struggle, particularly at large events where she could barely hear questions.
The former javelin thrower, who is also a public speaker and broadcaster, said the hearing loss took a toll on her career. 'For someone in the public eye as a speaker, an ambassador and on TV, that becomes a massive hurdle to overcome,' she explained. Sanderson, who is the first British black woman to win Olympic gold, eventually found a solution with a new pair of hearing aids after receiving proper guidance and follow-up support.
Sanderson now urges others with hearing loss not to withdraw. She highlighted a poll by Hidden Hearing which found that 41% of people who do not wear their hearing aids as recommended decide during their fitting that they are unlikely to persevere. Only one in seven were aware that best results often come after follow-up adjustments. Sanderson, who lives in east London with her husband Densign White and their twins, said her new aids have been 'life-changing' and restored her confidence.
