Krishna is just awesome. She recently made the news by winning the London Marathon in world record time for her age group. Her achievement is a testament to her physical prowess, determination and spirit. It also delineates a profound narrative of endurance as she persevered through multiple health obstacles throughout her life. From dealing with the aftermath of childbirth complications to overcoming debilitating health issues, Stanton’s journey to the marathon is as inspiring as it is extraordinary.
Stanton’s challenges started in 1996 when she gave birth to her son, Zachary, through a breech birth. The delivery resulted not only in major urinary incontinence but a 12-centimetre internal tear that radically compromised her capacity to run. Even through these great obstacles, Stanton held her focus on the recovery that would bring her back to the court. Her recovery journey was met with challenge after challenge. She has had numerous surgeries to repair severe bowel prolapse and survived the permanent scars of food poisoning in 2005, which turned her body into a state of shut down.
Despite these disappointments, Stanton drew on her resilience, and the power of her love for running. She set herself a personal goal to finish one on her 50th birthday in 2016 and succeeded. This milestone fueled her return story fire. It all contributed to her record-breaking day at the London Marathon in 2022.
A Long Road to Recovery
Krishna had her health problems start around the time of delivery, resulting in not only urinary incontinence, but very marked bowel dysfunction. The impact of these conditions was profound. “I just never knew when I needed to go to the bathroom,” she recalled. That ever-present fear of the unknown caused her to never feel at ease, which she said created a “perpetual state of stress.”
In order to regain at least a little quality of life, Stanton had multiple surgeries solely and strictly to make her bowel function better. One extremely complicated and important surgery was aimed at reestablishing a connection in the nervous system where it had been completely destroyed. “It took a while to manage, but it’s restored those nerves so that I can now run,” she explained.
Through all of these daunting hardships, Stanton approached this time with a positive attitude. “So, I thought what I’d been through wasn’t that much,” she stated, illustrating her ability to find perspective amidst adversity. This positive attitude was an important part of her recovery, but it drove her motivation to take back control of her life through running.
Athletic Accomplishments and Setbacks
Long before her health troubles became the center of her story, Stanton had already forged an incredible athletic career. She had competed at the World Indoor Championships in 1987. She ran a convincing win at the Australian Championships in 1990, claiming victory in the 3,000m. That commitment helped propel her to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. She was able to qualify for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Washington eventually retired from competitive athletics.
Stanton’s journey was not a straight line. Her health crises often eclipsed her victories. The severity of her condition prompted a year-long crisis of confidence and anger. “There was a 12-centimetre internal tear, so I was unable to run because I just couldn’t control my bladder,” she lamented. These health and life challenges only made her eventual return to competitive running all the more remarkable.
Her comeback journey started with modest personal objectives which over time evolved into larger, loftier ones. The determination she showed through this stretch set the stage for her successful marathon debut.
Breaking Records and Inspiring Others
Stanton’s work and moxie were put to the test in 2022. She finished the London Marathon and set a new world record for her age category! This accomplishment is not just a personal win—the news that she is going to college will provide the hope and motivation for others who are up against these odds. “To be able to come back from those [health issues] and win a silver medal was really worthwhile,” she remarked, highlighting the importance of resilience in overcoming adversity.
Today, Stanton tells her story with the hope of inspiring other women to take action. She pushes them to get treatment and find alternatives to opioids for pain management. “I would like people to know that there’s an option, and it can make a real difference,” she emphasized. Her experience illustrates that the key to overcoming health challenges is to confront them directly rather than allow them to become unchangeable barriers.
Stanton’s journey gives hope to the idea that true personal goals are possible despite life-changing adversity. Her victory at the London Marathon is an inspiration of the human spirit and perseverance.
