Team GB legend and former Strictly star Roger Black undergoes open heart surgery on condition he’s had for 47 YEARS

FORMER Olympian Roger Black has undergone open heart surgery on a condition he has lived with for 47 years.

The Team GB legend is a two-time 4x400m relay world champion and he won two silver medals at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

InstagramRoger Black has undergone open heart surgery[/caption] The Team GB icon won two silver medals at the Olympics in 1996Times Newspapers Ltd

Black, 58, battled a congenital heart condition throughout his glittering career.

But the athlete underwent surgery last month after his health took a turn for the worse.

Black said on Instagram: “Three weeks ago I had open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve and repair my aortic root.

“My ‘incompetent’ bicuspid aortic valve was discovered when I was 11-years-old and for the last 47 years I have been looked after by the cardiac team at Southampton General Hospital.

“At my annual check-up last summer it was clear that things had deteriorated despite me having no obvious symptoms.

‘It was a shock but deep down I knew this day would come even though I never allowed my heart disease to define me and prevent me from pursuing my athletic career.

“Thank you to Mr Tsang and all the medical team in Southampton who cared for me during what was a tough time in hospital. I am forever grateful.

“Most of all thank you to my wife Jules who was there when I woke up in intensive care 11 hours after surgery and has cared for me every day in recovery.

“Each day has been about small steps – yesterday was a big milestone as we walked to the top of St Martha’s Hill… our special place.”

After retiring from athletics, Black worked as a pundit for the BBC as well as appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2004 and reaching the Masterchef final in 2006.