Athletes Thrive with Life-Saving Heart Devices

When Christian Eriksen collapsed on the soccer field Sunday, a device smaller than a cell phone shocked his heart back into rhythm and likely saved his life.

The Danish midfielder plays with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in his chest, fitted after he suffered cardiac arrest during a 2021 match. The device worked exactly as designed, and Eriksen walked off the field safely.

ICDs are transforming what's possible for athletes with heart conditions. The small devices sit in the chest with wires connected to the heart, delivering an electric shock to restart it or correct dangerous rhythms.

"It's not 100 percent, but ICDs today are very good," says Dr. Amanda Lahti, a sports medicine researcher. "They tolerate physical contact and most often they work fast."

Just 20 years ago, anyone diagnosed with a serious heart condition was told to stop all sports completely. But doctors noticed something surprising when some athletes ignored that advice and kept competing anyway.

"For many of them, the ICD worked even better than we thought," Dr. Lahti explains. Now medical teams work with players individually to assess risks and benefits, allowing many to return to professional competition.

Eriksen himself returned to England's Premier League after his cardiac arrest, first with Brentford and then Manchester United. "I don't see any risk," he told BBC Sport in 2022. "If anything would happen then I am safe."

Former England cricketer James Taylor retired at 26 after getting his ICD, but the device activated just a month later while he was on stage. "It was like a mini explosion in my chest," he recalls. "But it worked."

Why This Inspires

Taylor now plays golf and padel confidently, knowing his device provides constant protection. He treats it as a friend rather than something to fear.

Medical advances mean athletes no longer have to choose between their health and their dreams. Major leagues including the Premier League and Bundesliga now allow players with ICDs to compete after individual medical assessments.

The technology proves that even life-threatening diagnoses don't have to end careers, and athletes are living proof that these devices work when it matters most.