Summary: John Smythe, Canadian National field hockey player, was developing as a young contender when he was hit with a series of mysterious and painful symptoms - as he says- from gums to bum. Crohn’s disease is not a straightforward diagnosis to make and it is not an easy disease to live with. For a high performance athlete, it’s even more of a challenge. The physical stress of an intense workout all by itself can be enough to trigger flare-ups. But after multiple surgeries and ultimately four years away from the sport, his recuperation is lasting, and so is his ability to quickly recognize symptoms and triggers. Smythe shares the remarkable story of how he has learned to live with Crohn’s to the extent that he’s now full speed ahead for the Tokyo Olympics
