Tiffany Stratton is opening up about a personal health battle that began long before her WWE rise, revealing she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis as a child while pushing through the brutal demands of elite gymnastics.
Speaking about her early athletic career on the Brie and Bella Show, Stratton shared that she dealt with the condition quietly while continuing to train at a high level. Despite the pain that came with the diagnosis, she made it clear that her mindset never allowed her to slow down.
“I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis as a little girl,” Stratton said.
She explained that even at a young age, she refused to let the condition stop her from pursuing her goals, especially as she worked toward competing at the highest levels in gymnastics.
“I always had so much grit in me to just pound it out. No matter how much pain I felt I still was just going to be giving it my all in gymnastics.”
Stratton also reflected on just how physically punishing elite gymnastics was on her body, saying the sport left her dealing with constant injuries that eventually forced her to reconsider her future.
“I had so many nagging injuries, I don’t think you guys understand, like it was so brutal on my body,” Stratton said. “Wrestling is hard on my body, but not in a way that gymnastics was.”
Those repeated injuries ultimately played a major role in her decision to step away from gymnastics, but she said once she made that choice, there was no second-guessing it.
“I never felt like, oh, I miss gymnastics. Not even a little bit,” Stratton said. “It just doesn’t serve me anymore. I found a new passion. When I make my decision there is no going back. I’m not going to look back, I’m not going to reminisce, I’m not going to dwell.”
After stepping away from gymnastics, Stratton shifted her focus to CrossFit and bodybuilding, which helped lay the foundation for her eventual move into professional wrestling. That transition ultimately led to her signing with WWE, where she has continued building momentum as one of the company’s rising stars.
Her revelation about battling rheumatoid arthritis adds new perspective to her athletic journey, showing that her path to WWE success began with overcoming physical challenges long before she ever stepped into a wrestling ring.
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