The unexpected link between the Olympics and Long COVID management. (written 07/28/2024)

Big events like the Olympics require a lot of preparation, and each step of that preparation needs focus and further preparation. 

People with Long COVID and post-infection conditions know that they need to be selective with their activities to manage their energy. This includes thinking about which events to join, organizing errands to get everything done with minimal energy outlay, and taking extra rest when needed. The same is true for Olympic athletes. 

In honor of the Olympics in Paris that started this weekend, we thought this may be a good opportunity to highlight some of the unexpected similarities between Olympic athletes and people with post-infection conditions. At first, you may not appreciate that there is much overlap, but there is more than you would imagine. It highlights how focused people living with post-infection conditions need to be to manage them, but it also helps illustrate that many of the habits that will help people in both settings be successful are easier to do than you might think.  

Andrea is a four-time Olympic athlete, winning four medals, and Katie has lived experience with Long COVID for four years (starting in March 2020). Our latest blog post, The Unexpected Link Between the Olympics and Long COVID Management, talks about the crossover in more detail, and considers the practical lessons people with post-infection conditions can learn from Olympic level athletes.

For Olympians, it is normal and expected to pace, balancing training and rest as well as everyday life. People with post-infection conditions can use the same concept and learn from peak performance approaches. This may not be something you think of at first, but the connections are clear once you look a little deeper. 

We hope you get a lot out of the blog post, The Unexpected Link Between the Olympics and Long COVID Management. Please let us know your biggest takeaway. We love hearing from you.

Warmly,  
Katie & Andrea

PS. The Unexpected Link Between the Olympics and Long COVID Management, our latest blog post, talks about the similarities between the Olympians competing in Paris over the next two weeks and people with post-infection conditions. This includes noting the practical, yet impactful, lessons people with post-infection conditions can learn from high-end athletes about pacing and building a strong physical foundation to support symptom management and improvement over time.