At the end of our almost hour-long conversation, Selina Rutz-Büchel says a remarkable sentence: “Subconsciously, I was convinced that it couldn’t affect me.” She knew that Long COVID existed. Her sister had dealt with similar effects a few months prior. “But I’m a young athlete – even though I knew about Long COVID, I was convinced that an infection would not cause me too much trouble.”
This is hardly surprising, as many people get through an infection without any problems – and it would be difficult to find anyone in Switzerland who is fitter and healthier than the two-time European athletics champion (see “Profile” box). Hardly anyone looks after their body better than Selina Rutz-Büchel. So, if she is not primed to cope well with an infection, who is?
“It’s an interesting psychological effect,” she says. “I’ve noticed that many other young people also feel invincible in this sense.” But it can affect anyone, regardless of your fitness level. This provides comfort – no one is “to blame” for suffering from Long COVID – and a warning: no one is immune to the insidious long-term effects.
Selina Rutz-Büchel fell ill at the beginning of April. She had a mild case, recovered quickly and was optimistic that she would soon be able to get caught up on her training. The results of a heart and lung health check were also positive.
“Sometimes you have to let your frustration out”
The first setback came 10 days later: she had a sore throat, felt tired and had to stop training. So, Rutz-Büchel tried to take a more leisurely approach to her recovery. However, two weeks later it hit her again: "Suddenly, I couldn’t do anything anymore. I was totally exhausted, even drained, in a completely disproportionate way.” This phase was very difficult because it slowly dawned on her that she would have to let go of her Olympic dream.
She has worked through her disappointment since then. How did she do that? “By being honest and allowing myself to feel what I was feeling – sometimes you have to let your frustration out!,’ says the top athlete.
Eventually, Selina Rutz-Büchel began to look on the bright side and develop a sense of gratitude. “During my five years of preparation, I learned so much, grew as a person and overcame many challenges. These experiences are still valuable for me, even if they didn't culminate in the way I'd hoped.”
For the first time in years, Rutz-Büchel was able to visit her family’s holiday home in Ticino in the summer and have plenty of time to herself. This allowed her to reflect on questions that would otherwise be neglected: what is important to me in life? Which path do I want to take? She is motivated by this new sense of focus.
“I've had to relearn a lot.”
The 800-meter runner also got to know her body again. “I've had to relearn a lot of things,” she says. In the past, her cardiovascular system was always the limiting factor during recovery. But now her nervous system seems out of sync. Activities that require a lot of cognitive effort really wear her out. “This is a completely new sensation for me.” This is consistent with what we know about Long COVID, which turns many established certainties upside down.
The major role played by her cycle
She learned to interpret her body's signals differently. During her period, each day often feels like a relapse: she feels worse, and new symptoms, fever and limb pain emerge. “Being able to put things into perspective helps me. It doesn't come out of nowhere in the same way. I don’t have to think: there’s no end in sight,” explains Selina. This will enable her to cope better in the future.
After a difficult phase in which she learned to accept her situation, Selina Rutz-Büchel has found her motivation again. The next Olympic Games will take place in three years – Paris 2024. One month before she became infected, Rutz-Büchel decided to continue until then. After much deliberation, she maintains that: “I still want to go to Paris!” However, how long it will take her to return to her old level is completely unclear. “My body sets the pace. I can’t make any plans.”
Header image: Weltklasse Zürich 2019/Felix Walker
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