Pinal Today

 When Lizzy Yarnold set out to win Olympic gold in 2018 in the sliding sport of skeleton, she never imagined such a common problem would stand in her way. Her issues were  caused by a vestibular disorder affecting the inner ear, the Sun newspaper reported.

She also revealed having trouble breathing in a new much colder climate during the events and experiencing vertigo and sinus headaches without congestion, the story said.

Yarnold, who began competing professionally in 2010, had previously won gold in the Olympics 2014. She is the most successful skeleton athlete of any nation. Shortly after arriving at the 2018 Olympics, she developed a chest infection, which intensified to the point that she was having trouble speaking and breathing, according to Wikipedia. 

Vestibular disorders affecting the inner ear are sometimes referred to as labrynthitis, which is caused by inflammation of part of the inner ear known as the labyrinth. The inflammation comes from an infection, usually bacterial or in some cases viral, according to NHS Inform.

“Most people never feel the pressure build up, they never feel the  pressure release, they don't really think about their ears,” said Dr. Brian Lee of the Scottsdale Sinus and Allergy Center.

Yarnold tried many home remedies for sinus headaches in an attempt to dull the symptoms of her condition, Wikipedia said. After falling to third in the competition, she was able to somewhat tame her symptoms and take home the winning gold medal in 2018.  

Most bacterial infections clear up within 10 days and are typically caused by a common cold, the Mayo Clinic said. You should see a sinus inflammation specialist when things do not clear up after that long, things get worse or you have a history of recurrent or chronic sinusitis and sinus headache.