Back in 2020, I read an article about a college cross country runner, then age 20, who got COVID that summer. She was basically an elite athlete in her group, at the top of her game, with her youth helping her to recover quickly from her meets. Months later, after first contracting COVID, she could still barely walk across the room. So yes, I believe it’s real.
there is someone here that has a professional tennis player as a relative. he got Covid. it really messed with his career. not sure if he can now play .