Long COVID has had a lasting impact on the lives of several athletes including top rower Marie-Sophie Zeidler. Although scientists are gaining a better understanding of the disease, there is still no outright solution.
Marie-Sophie Zeidlerâs training is intense and her focus is on the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The 24-year-old contracted COVID-19 for the second time just over a month ago. At the time her lung capacity was reduced to 60 percent. Today she has to cope with a loss of just over 25 percent. âItâs extremely frightening to see how quickly the body can break down, even though youâre actually fit,â Zeidler says.
For six months after her first infection in October 2020, she struggled with Long COVID. Long COVID symptoms such as rapid physical exhaustion, shortness of breath and other unpleasantries before she regained her former fitness.
Physical exhaustion is often observed in Long COVID patients - persistent fatigue, deep lack of strength and lack of drive, so that normal everyday life can hardly be managed.
âYou always have to focus on the patientâs individual complaints in each case, thatâs very important,â Thatâs what often makes treatment so challenging and sometimes complicated.