Two-time European 800m champion retires from running due to lengthy COVID

Two-time European 800m champion and Swiss record holder in the 800m. Serena Lutz Bucher announced her retirement on social media Wednesday, long COVID quotes.

Die Schweizer Rekordhalterin Selina Rutz-Büchel havedet ihre Karriere als 800-m-Läuferin. Ihre Long-Covid-Erkrankung lässt die Rückkehr in den Trainingsalltag leider nicht zu.
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— Swiss Athletics (@SwissAthletics) November 9, 2022

Rutz-Büchel is a two-time European indoor champion in the 800 m, winning titles in 2015 and 2017. 2015 Paris Diamond League. She represented Switzerland at the 2016 Olympics, 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships.

According to Swiss Athleticsshe contracted coronavirus in April 2021 and has been unable to return to her training routine since.

In April 2022, 31-year-old Lutz-Büchel gave birth to a daughter, but explained to Swiss Athletics that her post-coronavirus health condition “had taken a toll on her body and prevented her from training”. .

“Due to ongoing health problems (long Covid), I have decided to retire from elite sports,” Rutz-Büchel wrote on her Instagram. I am so grateful to be able to look back on the wonderful times I had, and my heartfelt thanks to all the lovely people who accompanied and supported me on my journey.”

Rutz-Büchel isn’t the only professional runner who has shared the fight against the virus.Earlier this year, Australia’s Olympic 1,500m finalist Stewart McSwain was Forced to withdraw from the World Indoor Championships In Belgrade, Serbia, after a long battle with COVID-19. It took his 27-year-old McSweyn months to overcome the respiratory effects of the virus. He returned to form at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon in July, where he placed ninth in the 1,500 m final.

Canadian record holder and Olympic 200m champion André de Grasse I also struggled to recover after the virus. He contracted an illness before his 2022 Canadian Athletics Championships in June and was unable to fully recover his physical condition in time for the World Athletics Championships in July. He dropped out of the 200m due to shortness of breath. However, Douglas returned to run his team’s anchor his leg in the 4x100m relay. Help Canada Income Their first World Championship gold at the event since 1997.

One of the main questions runners ask post-corona is how long will it take to heal? regain fitness And feel normal again. Dr. Mark Warfel, A pulmonologist at the University of Washington Thoracic Clinic says the answer is “frustratingly vague.” The time it takes to return to fitness will depend on how long you’ve been away from training, the severity of your illness, and any lingering symptoms. “

Rutz-Büchel writes that he wants to stay in the sport as a coach and trainer, but looks forward to spending more time with his family.