Tennis: Competing At Your Best

For many people like myself, sports are a significant part of our lives and are enjoyed all over the world. I am 15 years old and among other sports, tennis is a passion of mine. However, living with celiac disease (an auto-immune disease where gluten cannot be consumed) affected how I played tennis from the time I developed the disease, to when I started on a gluten-free diet. Like so many other people with allergies, my new diagnosis affected so many parts of my life, one of them being sports, and continues to be an important factor I always have to keep in mind when playing tennis.

For starters, before I was diagnosed with celiac disease, my tennis coach noticed differences in my playing. He mentioned that I seemed very unbalanced and that I was slightly delayed when I was hitting the ball. I even admitted to feeling more fatigued and tired earlier on in my lessons and matches than I used to. Fast forward a few months later and we discovered that celiac was the cause of these changes. After going on a gluten-free diet for a few months, my playing resumed back to normal and I enjoyed the sport just as much as I did before I developed celiac.

While many allergies are different from celiac disease, some can also present symptoms like celiac disease and prevent one from playing his or her best in sports. We all want to perform as well as we possibly can and have practice pay off, but when allergies get in the way, how can we possibly have the best results?

This is something that many other athletes question throughout their lives. The fears of being exposed to the food they are allergic to, the repercussions of playing after being exposed to the allergen, and other allergy-related concerns are common thoughts that athletes, both young and old, experience. It is important to be honest about your concerns and explain them to parents, friends, coaches, and officials.

While not everyone may realize the struggles you are currently dealing with, it is crucial to give others a chance to listen to you and develop their own understanding of what being an athlete with an allergy is like. Letting others know your uneasiness can better your overall experience with sports and lead to an improved relationship with your allergy as a whole. If you take control over your allergy and be proactive when it comes to upcoming sporting events or activities, then you are more likely to play your best, feel your best, and enjoy the sport you love to the maximum.

Allergies can be scary and most definitely life-changing. But we must not allow them to be discouraging. I have worried throughout my life about eating before playing tennis for fear of possibly being exposed to gluten and not playing well after. However, I have found the right foods and routines for me that have given me the confidence I need. Eating safe foods that I eat on a regular basis and that I am positive are gluten-free are always the best options to eat right before an important match. Even cooking my own meals beforehand instead of going to restaurants or having others cook them for me, eliminates the risk of cross-contact and leaves me assured that my allergy will not stop me from playing my best. I have realized now that my allergy does not define my playing, that I am never alone with these struggles and neither are you!
 

I am the type of person who always double checks everything. Whether it be simply reviewing my answers on a test to catch any silly mistakes, or re-reading the ingredients of a food item to make sure I did not misread.  I always take a few seconds to double-check. In fact, I try to live by the motto: “double check to prevent a wreck” during tennis season to make sure I do not disregard the severity of my food allergies.

My name is Savanna and I am a 16-year-old senior in high school.  Tennis is one of the many hobbies I take part in, but it is easily one of my favorites. I remember watching an old clip of Serena Williams serving at the 2008 Wimbledon game and was immediately infatuated by her drive and skill, which motivated me to play for my highschool’s varsity tennis team . Although playing tennis brought many physical and social benefits, it also highlighted the challenge of dealing with my food allergies. I am allergic to eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish. I was introduced to my food allergies as an infant, as I experienced a throat-swelling and hive-breaking allergic reaction to a boiled egg. I was rushed to the emergency room where I was treated and then tested for other possible allergies. As I got older, I began to adapt to some of my allergens. I became tolerant of eggs that are in baked goods, hazelnuts, and food items that ‘may contain’ or are processed in the same facility as peanuts or tree nuts.  Still, to be on the safe side, I make sure to double-check the ingredients of all food items before I eat them, and carry my Epinephrine Auto-Injector with me at all times. 

During tennis season, I spend the majority of my time with my team. My team is like a family, we always look out for one another. This is why it is important for them to be aware of my food allergies, so they can be cautious with what they consume around me. At first, I was slightly embarrassed to talk about my food allergies with my team because I was scared of being judged. As a result, my teammates would unknowingly offer me granola or protein bars that contain nuts and I would often accept them. Luckily, I always made sure to double-check the ingredients before I would eat them. However, after several close calls, I knew that I had to tell my teammates about my food allergies, as having an allergic reaction is more detrimental than being embarrassed. I also informed my coach about my food allergies, and he did his best to keep the environment safe by enforcing the need to sanitize and wash hands after eating a snack that contains an allergen. It is always good to look out for yourself, but having others do the same eases any doubt or uncertainty. 

Additionally, instead of sharing food items with my teammates and risking exposure to allergens, I always pack my own snacks for games and practices. I feel much more safe knowing that I am in control of my health and body.

In tennis, I face many tough opponents but none of them compare to my biggest competitor: food allergies. They can be scary to deal with, but by being alert, proactive, and transparent, I have learned to accommodate my food allergies on and off the court. Hopefully, sharing my experience with you will give you the upper hand in your match against food allergies!