Taking control

Life is full of challenges. Some are caused by circumstances we have no control over. Sometimes our struggles are rooted in long held social attitudes that can take generations to change... and then there are those problems that come entirely from within ourselves, when our minds or bodies work differently from others. We've searched the globe to find 5 athletes with extraordinary tales of challenges they have overcome in every one of those categories.

Basketballer Daniel Edozie is a former Division One college baller who also represented England on the international stage... but Daniel led a nomadic life as a child. He was born in the UK, and then taken to America by his mother but ended up being abandoned and living on the streets of Skid Row in Los Angles. Daniels ability to navigate such a dangerous place at such a young age is remarkable. So how did he take control of his own destiny and set his sights on sporting greatness?

Runner Lauren Fleshman had a long and successful athletics career, including being twice US 5,000m champion. She retired a decade ago which meant she had more time for writing, something she'd enjoyed doing whilst competing. Her blog "Ask Lauren Fleshman" was a huge success, and when you hear Lauren speak, it's no surprising why people seek out her advice. Drawing on a lifetime of experience, Lauren then published her memoir 'Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man's World' tackling the added societal stresses and strains professional female sport stars have compared to their male counter parts.

When suffer from physical frailty, the source of that difficulty is usually quite obvious, and the treatments well established, but when our brains work differently, the results can be very scary. Even getting the right diagnosis can be a challenge. It took footballer Millie Farrow years of uncertainty and confusion before she was diagnosed with the mental health condition Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The condition made the chances of her fulfilling her dream of becoming a professional footballer slim. Fast forward to today, and having learned how to live successfully with her OCD she's thrived. She's currently playing in Australia, but has also played for North Carolina Courage and several teams in her home country England

It's a cruel joke that it's often those who seemingly have it all that can struggle the most. Marcus Smith II was a first round pick when he joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014. His NFL career continued to rise when he signed a lucrative contract with the Seattle Seahawks. It seemed Marcus was living the dream... but actually he was suffering with crippling anxiety, nothing new to him, it was something he had to deal with since he was just 8 years old.. but eventually it became too much for him to bear. Some of his story is difficult to hear, but after seeking help he was able to take a different path and is now helping others struggling with their mental health.

When our bodies fail us sometimes it's our minds that make the difference. In 1981, jockey Bob Champion won a fairytale victory in Britain's most famous horse race, the Grand National. Two years earlier, Champion had been diagnosed with cancer, he put his survival through invasive treatment down to his focus on his life time dream. Winning the Grand National.

PHOTO: Daniel Edozie #42 of the Iowa State Cyclones celebrates after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 85-83 in the third round of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament (CREDIT: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)