Aries Merritt was told less than two years ago that he would never be able to run again, and on Sept. 1, he is set for a kidney transplant, according to the IAAF.
But next Friday, the Olympic champion and world-record holder hopes to sprint in the 110m hurdles final at the World Track and Field Championships in Beijing.
“When they told me I had kidney disease, I was heartbroken,” Merritt said, according to the IAAF. “Not being able to do the thing I love doing so much was very painful to come to terms with.