Triathlon prodigy reveals how life-changing illness M.E. destroyed his promising career

Triathlon conjures up a vision of athletes who are physical and mental specimens who dedicate their lives to maintaining peak fitness in the ultimate test of endurance. 

From Super Sprint to IRONMAN, triathletes spend countless hours a week fine tuning their bodies in swim, bike and run, disciplining themselves to train, eat and live a healthy lifestyle. 

Now imagine that all comes to an abrupt halt due to a mysterious illness which baffles doctors – that is exactly what happened to Ireland’s James Walton. 

A member of the Brownlee training group in Leeds and looking destined for big things, Walton’s world came crashing down in September 2020. 

“I felt like I’d been hit by a bus” 

The 2019 Ireland Sprint Triathlon National Championship silver medallist was preparing to take the next step in his triathlon career, when his body began to let him down. 

“I noticed I was sleeping longer, feeling more fatigued and recovery was slower between training sessions during the summer of 2020,” James told Tri247. 

“Then on September 1 I went for my last ever bout of exercise – a 45 min easy run. The next day I woke up and felt like I’d been hit by a bus.  

“I had a viral infection and had typical flu-like symptoms. Eventually, those symptoms subsided but the fatigue remained.  

“From there my condition worsened, to this day it still doesn’t feel real that I have such a debilitating illness that has been so grossly ignored by the medical world.” 

What is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis? 

Twelve months of uncertainty followed for Walton and his family as he adapted to his yet unknown condition, which boasted a variety of live-changing symptoms. 

“My main symptoms have been fatigue, post-exertion malaise, unrestful sleep, excess sweating, poor temperature control, brain fog and cognitive difficulties.

“This means I struggle with any exertion (climbing the stairs, eating food etc) whilst also struggling with any cognitive tasks like reading or having a conversation.”  

Around a year after the initial illness reared its ugly head, Walton was able to acquire a diagnosis – Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.). 

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) website details M.E., also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), as a long-term condition that can affect different parts of the body, with the most common symptom being extreme tiredness.  

Sleep problems, cognitive problems and post-exertion malaise are the three other main symptoms regularly attributed to the syndrome, all of which affect James. The causes of the condition remain unknown, with research on the area minimal. 

“I suppose it helped to be diagnosed but at the same time it was bittersweet as the NHS has nothing to offer.  

“I have been seen privately for my diagnosis and management, but my current consultant has just retired. This leaves me with no-one to manage my care or prescribe any new treatments that may evolve.  

“The waiting lists for most M.E. specialists are now closed as they are swamped with people looking for help with this awful condition.” 

A budding career ruined

Walton described himself as a typical athletic youngster, getting involved in multiple sports at an early age before developing his love for triathlon. 

“As a kid I always enjoyed swimming and played Gaelic Football in Ireland. 

“I remember seeing triathlon in the Olympics, alongside watching my father complete a few triathlons, and I really wanted to give it a go.  

“I did my first triathlon aged 16, at the Roe Valley Sprint Triathlon and was hooked. I couldn’t get enough of it. I just loved the opportunity of doing three different sports at once.” 

The now 28-year-old’s talent was undeniable after winning the 2014 Ireland Triathlon Junior National Championship. He would later go on to win the Senior Ireland Aquathlon National crown in 2019 and finish second in the Sprint Triathlon national championships the same year. 

“I would start the weekdays with a morning swim, hitting anywhere from 4-5km,” Walton divulged as he discussed his training regime when he was healthy. 

“This would be followed by a nap, before hitting the second session of the day. This would often be a bike session followed by a run or maybe a gym in the evening.  

“I would aim for two hard swims per week, one hard run, one long run, one hard bike and one long bike.  

“Everything else around that was mostly low intensity. I would average around 15-20 hours training per week alongside my studies and part time work.” 

Working with the Brownlees 

James studied at Leeds Beckett University doing a masters degree in Sport and Exercise Physiology and joined the Leeds Triathlon Centre headed by Olympians Alastair and Jonny Brownlee. 

“The Leeds Triathlon Centre had a really nice weekly structure that rarely changed. It was motivating following this structure knowing it has produced multiple World Championship and Olympic medals.   

“I was doing sessions alongside the Brownlee brothers, Alex Yee and Sam Dickinson – who are all now Olympic medallists. 

“It was an amazing experience and very motivational. I found Tuesday night track sessions to be particularly great as all the athletes were very supportive. 

“You would be doing 1km repeats and have Jonny Brownlee shouting encouragement from the side. It was quite surreal to be honest, having grown up watching these guys win world and Olympic titles on TV.  

“It was also a great learning experience for me to be able to see how these guys train.  

“You might assume they’re doing ridiculously hard and complicated sessions, but I was amazed by how straightforward and relaxed the whole training environment was.  

“Throw in the high-level coaching we were getting, and this was the perfect environment to thrive in.   

Support from the community 

Like always in these horrible situations, the triathlon community has fully supported James as he continues to cope with M.E. 

“The triathlon community has been great. My old club, the Triangle Triathlon Club, has sent me lots of supportive messages and also helped my family last year in doing a triathlon relay for an M.E. charity. 

“One of the members, Sabrina McLaughlin even stepped up and did a leg of the triathlon for us.  

“Our neighbour club North West Triathlon has also shared support for me, along with old training and racing partners. I hope that someday I can repay them all for their support.”  

Action for M.E. 

With research into M.E. very much scarce, James, and his family, have been seeking to raise money and exposure for the cause – with the charity Action for M.E. supporting his ongoing battle. 

“Action for M.E. has been a vital source of support for me as someone living with M.E. 

“It provides advocacy, raises awareness, and pushes for more research, all of which is crucial for improving the lives of people with this condition.  

“Its work helps ensure that M.E. is taken seriously, and its resources offer guidance and community at a time when support can feel scarce.” 

James’ girlfriend Emily, and her family, are set to run the Edinburgh Marathon in May to raise £2,000 for Action for M.E. 

“They have set up a fundraising page, any donations and shares would be greatly appreciated,” explained James. 

“Another impactful way to support the M.E. community right now is by getting behind the There for M.E. campaign.  

“The UK government is set to announce its plans for the M.E./CFS Action Plan, and this is a critical moment to ensure it receives proper funding. Without dedicated resources, the plan risks being ineffective, leaving millions of people with M.E. without the research, services, and support they desperately need.  

“By raising awareness, contacting MPs, and amplifying the campaign’s message, people can help apply pressure on decision-makers to fully fund the plan and take meaningful action for the M.E. community.” 

You can support James and Action For M.E. by clicking here.