The ordeal of an athletics star who had to retire due to illness: “It feels like you’re just days away from death”

Olympic athletics star Beth Dobbin has been forced to retire from the sport following a diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis, an incurable illness that has fundamentally altered her daily life. Dobbin, a former representative for Britain, described the severe physical toll of the condition, stating that it feels "as if you are a few days away from death."

Separately, coverage of geographic phenomena notes that in Quito, located 2,850 meters above sea level, temperatures remain cool throughout much of the year due to altitude. This characteristic of tropical latitudes near the equator contrasts with traditional seasonal patterns.