Jornet, Ayuso, success with covid and risk to the heart: "They accept a danger"

• Profile Juan Ayuso, the "perfect machine" that breaks the mold: "He knows biomechanics, physiology, glycogen..."

• Chronicle Kilian Jornet already has his 'Flu Game': victory and record in the UTMB with a positive in Covid

Juan Ayuso

felt "really bad" during the Vuelta a España, "many symptoms, headache", and despite this he continued: he finished third, podium in his first major, at 19 years old.

Kilian Jornet

noticed "that in his lungs" in the middle of the Montblanc Ultra Trail (UTMB), he couldn't "breathe well", he suffered "leg cramps", and despite this he continued: he won, he won like no one had done, in less than 20 hours.

Both competed with coronavirus and nothing happened: the world has changed.

Only two years after the pandemic paralyzed everything, after anyone infected was quarantined and strict control protocols were created, there are already athletes running, cycling or playing with a positive test in their pocket.

Vaccines, the evolution of the virus and the knowledge of it have allowed evolution, but there is still some uncertainty: What if we are going too fast?

"Without a doubt it is part of the new normality, of the relaxation of the measures, of coexistence with the virus, but on a medical level it is not recommended. Perhaps not so much because of the infections because we are talking about low viral loads and athletes at open air and without contact, but because of the risks. With a positive, even if it is a residual positive, the body should not be subjected to a maximum demand exercise. If they do it, it is under very good medical supervision and accepting the danger that means for all the parties involved", explains

, head of Preventive Medicine at the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona and professor at the University of Barcelona.

From his point of view, the appearance of symptoms should lead to the immediate withdrawal of the athlete from competition and, in asymptomatic cases, care must be exaggerated.

"The coronavirus is clearly associated with cardiovascular problems, that is, it can damage the heart, for example causing arrhythmias. The closer to the virus, the weaker the body is and overexertion should be avoided in all cases," adds Trilla.

2% of cases

In his speech, the studies that have linked athletes to coronavirus and their disturbing results.

Last year, researchers from 13 American universities followed the evolution of more than 1,500 athletes from these centers when passing or after having passed the coronavirus and discovered that more than 2% had myocarditis, that is, inflammation of the heart.

An ailment that can cause arrhythmias and, in the worst cases, sudden death.

That is why in recent times stress tests have multiplied in clubs and federations and that is why some athletes, such as the footballers

or

, have spent periods of sick leave under observation.

"My approach is that if there is a fever, sports are prohibited, there is a risk of cardiovascular damage, and if there are no symptoms, it can be done prudently. Kilian was asymptomatic and was able to run because of his immune system and his metabolic efficiency. Throughout the race of UTMB was monitoring his lactate so as not to exceed the anaerobic threshold and demand too much from the heart", explains

, a specialist in Sports Medicine from the University of Barcelona and a trusted doctor of Kilian Jornet himself.

According to his experience, the response to the coronavirus among athletes is totally uneven, from those who overcome it as a simple cold to those who take "two to six months to recover 100%".

"I have found some functional, non-pathological arrhythmia, and cases in which after the coronavirus they get an infection, such as mononucleosis, which aggravates the case. There are dangers, but also mild or very mild cases. In my opinion, with controls you can to compete, after all, that is the job of an elite athlete. More than Kilian, I am concerned about patients at risk, with chronic pathology, who have to continue exercising because it is essential for their health and they contract the virus ", finishes the doctor.

In his reflection, the conclusion: perhaps elite sport goes too fast, but it is always like that.

Health risk is inherent in success: Juan Ayuso and Kilian Jornet are the ultimate test.

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