Famous Athletes with Crohn's Disease
Rolf Benirschke, former placekicker for San Diego Chargers. He was the second-last draft pick in the 1977 National Football League draft, but proved that didn’t mean a whole lot, setting 16 teams records before his retirement.
In his third year, he started having abdominal cramps and diarrhea before being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and had emergency surgery in 1979 to remove most of his colon.
However, not getting down on himself, he returned to action one year later and continued to fight through it for 7 consecutive seasons; he finished as the team’s highest scorer.
Fernando Pisani - Athletes with Crohn's Disease
Kevin Dineen, current head coach of the American Hockey League’s Portland Pirates and former National Hockey League player, is among the list of famous people with Crohn’s disease.
Dineen was drafted to the NHL’s Hartford Whalers in 1982 as the 56th selection. In the 1994-95 season he was a finalist for the Masterson Trophy. Kevin served as captain of the Philadelphia Flyers in 1993-94, the Hartford Whalers in 1996-97, and the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997-98.
He has played in over 1,000 games in the NHL with the Whalers, the Flyers, the Hurricanes, and the Ottawa Senators.
Dineen also has Crohn's Disease, and is a spokesperson for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. He retired from the NHL in 2002 with 1,184 career games.
Theoren Fleury, former Calgary Flame, was picked 188th in the 1987 NHL entry draft and was known for his competitiveness and feistiness on the ice. He was diagnosed with Crohn’s back in 1996.
He was signed as a free agent by the New York Rangers 3 years later, but alcohol-related issues helped keep him off the scoresheet, being plagued by suspensions and other problems for the remainder of his career.
Fleury became a role model for young hockey players everywhere due to his small frame, and was considered below the standard size for the game.
Fernando Pisani, current Edmonton Oiler star. In game 5 of the 2006 Stanley Cup finals, he scored 2 key goals; the 2nd was a record, being the first time a shorthanded goal scored in overtime, won the game.
Finishing the post season that year with 14 was the league-high. In September 2007, the Oilers made the announcement that Pisani was undergoing treatment for ulcerative colitis and would be out indefinitely. Pisani’s treatment has not been made public but he is expected to return once his condition is under control. Pisani is among the famous people with Crohn’s disease.
Shayne Corson, former Toronto Maple Leaf, St. Louis Blue, Dallas Star, Montreal Canadien and Oiler, last played in 2003-04. Did not play after the 04-05 lockout year and is now retired. Retired with Dallas. He was diagnosed back as a Midget hockey player.
David Garrard, quarterback for Jacksonville Jaguars, diagnosed in 2004, he first experienced the symptoms in January 2003, after a confirmation following a colonoscopy. All his therapies failed and he lost 35 pounds from his 6’ 2” frame. After a surgery to remove about a foot of intestine, he recovered fast and regained the weight. As of July 2006, he is Crohn’s free.