After a Covid Scare, an Olympic Hopeful Recovers Her Optimism

Though her coronavirus and strep tests came back negative, Lee, spent nearly two weeks in isolation, not wanting to take any chances. Her aunt and uncle, with whom she had been very close, died of Covid-19 this summer, within 13 days of each other. She had to say goodbye to her aunt via Zoom.

Now Lee, a high school senior this year, is finally back at her gym, Midwest Gymnastics, for what seems like her hundredth restart in 2020.

This interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

Of course, the first thing I thought when I got sick was, “I have the coronavirus.” It was scary. I had the worst headache of my life and it lasted for four days. My throat hurt so bad that I couldn’t talk or swallow. At night, I slept with five blankets on me because I had the shivers and couldn’t stop shaking. Then my fever got really high, like to 103. One day I cried all day when I couldn’t even lie down because it hurt to do anything. My mom left chicken soup for me at my door, and it was so great that she could take care of me. The food was good. I didn’t lose my taste or smell, so maybe it wasn’t the coronavirus after all.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/24/sports/olympics/sunisa-lee-coronavirus-olympic-training.html