The squeak of sneakers, the rhythmic dribble of the ball, and the sprint down the court leave KSU basketball player Charles Stone breathless—not just from the intensity of competition, but from the asthma he battles every time he steps onto the floor.
For many athletes, fatigue during competition is expected. For Kennesaw State basketball player Charles Stone, fatigue once came with an even greater challenge—learning to compete while managing asthma.
Diagnosed at a young age, Stone grew up understanding that physical activity would require extra preparation. His mother constantly reminded him to carry an inhaler, a habit that quickly became part of his daily routine.
“I always had to keep my inhaler around,” Stone said. “If I had an episode, I knew I would be okay as long as I had it.”
As a child, asthma sometimes slowed him down, especially during intense practices or games when breathing became difficult. Early in his athletic career, he did not always recognize the warning signs, often pushing through tightness in his chest and exhaustion without realizing his condition was affecting his performance.
Eventually, learning how to manage asthma properly changed everything. Using preventive medication, recognizing symptoms early, and communicating with coaches helped him compete more confidently.
“I’ve learned to deal with it now,” Stone said. “It doesn’t affect me as much anymore because I know what to do.”
Stone says preparation is the key to staying competitive. Before practices and games, he ensures his inhaler is readily available and monitors how he feels throughout competition. When symptoms begin, he takes short breaks if needed and returns once breathing stabilizes.
That preparation has allowed him to compete at the Division I level, proving that asthma does not have to prevent athletes from reaching elite performance levels. Instead, he believes the condition has strengthened his mental approach to sports.
“Having asthma made me mentally stronger,” he said. “It’s just one more thing you have to fight through.”
Stone also hopes his experience helps challenge the perception that athletes must be perfectly healthy to succeed. Many competitors, he says, quietly manage medical conditions while continuing to perform at a high level.
“There’s a stereotype that athletes are perfectly healthy,” he said. “But athletes deal with things just like everyone else.”
As he prepares for his final seasons of college basketball, Stone’s goals remain simple: compete at his highest level, support teammates, and show younger athletes that asthma does not define their limits.
“You can still achieve your goals,” he said. “You just have to learn how to manage it and keep pushing.”
For Stone, every game is a reminder that success is not about having perfect health—it is about preparation, persistence, and the determination to keep moving forward, one breath at a time.
