Oonagh Cousins was preselected for the Tokyo Olympics as a professional rower on the British team — until Long COVID derailed everything.
In this episode of Still Here, co-hosts Miles Griffis and Betsy Ladyzhets talk to Cousins about developing severe Long COVID at the start of the pandemic, her years-long attempt to return to elite training, and the relapse that ultimately forced her retirement in 2022. She is one of many professional athletes grappling with infection associated chronic conditions, including NHL player Jonathan Toews, tennis player Emily Radacanu, and many more. Cousins reflects on how her athletic background reshaped her understanding of rest, toughness, and listening to her body, and speaks candidly about pushing back on harmful “brain retraining” programs.
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Links mentioned:

• Research updates, July 14 - The Sick Times

• Emma Raducanu has post-viral syndrome. And commentators are giving her terrible advice. - The Sick Times

• NBA player Kristaps Porziņģis shares POTS diagnosis - The Sick Times

• Grappling with Long COVID as an elite athlete - The Sick Times

• Long Covid course is ‘exploiting people’, says ex-GB rower - BBC

• The importance of understanding rest - by Oonagh Cousins

• Follow Oonagh's work on socials: @oonaghcousins_longcovid
  @visible.health