23 Jul 2025

From chronic fatigue to sprinting gold: 100m champion Harris shines spotlight on epilepsy

BOCHUM - Minutes after beating a high-qualify field to win the biggest title of her young career, Australian sprint sensation Georgia Harris decided the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games was the right time to share something deeply personal, and hugely important.

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Open gallery

“I’ve got epilepsy as well, which obviously brings its own battles day to day,” the new champion told the FISU Games News Service (FGNS) after winning the women’s 100 metres.

“I know Flo Jo (Florence Griffith Joyner, USA’s three-time Olympic sprint champion and 100m world record holder), she had epilepsy. So, when I found that out, it was kind of cool. But I hadn’t really heard of many athletes with epilepsy. That’s why I want to share it now.”

The 21-year-old had just run 11.44 seconds to grab gold at the Lohrheidestadion in Bochum. Fastest in round one, second fastest in the semi-finals, then the champion.

It was a defining set of performances from an athlete whose previous best international efforts was sixth place in the 4x100m relay at the World Athletics U20 Championships in 2022.

This journey to success is what Harris wants others to hear and take what they need from.

Listening to her body

“I’m medicated now, but a side effect of it (epilepsy) is chronic fatigue. Being an athlete, that really sucks,” the Australian said. “We’re managing it the best we can. Obviously, it’s working because I just went out there and did what I did.

“I haven’t been very vocal about it until now. But even when you have these challenges and you feel some days are like the end of the world and you can’t do anything, it is nice to know that that you’re not the only one, you’re not alone.

“That’s why I wanted to share it here.”

For the Griffith University student, it is all about being acutely in tune with her own needs. That has allowed her to become one of the fastest young women on the planet.

“It’s listening to my body,” Harris said. “I’m pretty well versed with my body now, knowing when I need to take a break or when I can push a little bit harder again.”

Great support network

This approach, together with a strong support network, has delivered exactly what she wanted.

“My coach is all over it,” she said. “He’s amazing. I love him so much. He listens to me, and it just really works. Obviously, as we’ve seen tonight, it works.

“I’m grateful to my parents as well. I just want a special mention of them. All the challenges that I’ve been through, they’ve stuck right beside me.”

The newly crowned champion, who also had to battle back from knee surgery in 2019, signed off with a final message for all those who face what appear to be insurmountable challenges.

“I wouldn’t be the type of athlete I am today without those challenges,” Harris said simply. “If I didn’t have those challenges, I wouldn’t be here.”

Athletics action at Lohrheidestadion continues on Wednesday with the men’s and women’s 400m among five gold medals to be decided in the evening session. Get your tickets here.

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