Silver medalist of the OI-2016, two-time winner of the World Championships, three times European champion and winner of the gold of the European Games, a popular wrestler of the Greco-Roman style and concurrently People’s Deputy of Ukraine from the pro-presidential Servant of the People party Zhan Beleniuk announced through social networks that he had already recovered from coronavirus.
The wrestler talked to the correspondent of “Facts”, told about his illness, shared his recommendations.
– Jean, how are you feeling?
– Everything is already normal, I want to quickly move to an active life. Unfortunately, the coronavirus did not pass me by.
– How did it all start?
– At the next training session, I felt an ache in my body, the temperature rose to 37 degrees, I was a little freezing. In short, there was a feeling that something was wrong. I decided not to train for a couple of days. But when I found out that the guys with whom I trained at the base in Koncha-Zaspa, having returned home, passed the tests and all four were positive, I realized that, most likely, the deterioration of my condition is associated with infection with coronavirus. And when I passed the PCR test, I was convinced that it was so. I have passed tests before – for example, when deputies with whom I have contacted fell ill in the Verkhovna Rada. I did it as part of prevention.
– How did you feel when PCR showed that you had coronavirus?
– Nothing special. I understood that absolutely any person can get sick with this and, if anything, just need to be treated. After receiving the test results, I informed my Facebook subscribers that I was faced with this ailment, and began to talk about the symptoms and other nuances, so that people would not be so scared if, God forbid, they also find a coronavirus in themselves. Moreover, my condition allowed me to do this. I shared my feelings, what accessories I surrounded myself with – for example, I bought two thermometers, since I live with my mother. In case of infection, you need to limit contacts as much as possible.
– How are you treated?
– As long as there are no complications, no special treatment is needed. Basically, these are preventive measures – for example, plentiful warm drinks. I did the CT scan on the same day as the test. She showed that my lungs are absolutely clean. But since there was no clear understanding of when the infection itself occurred, I was advised to do a CT scan again to see if inflammation had developed. It is important not to miss this moment.
– Something worries now?
– The only thing is my back aches. Perhaps this is due to the fact that my lifestyle during the period of illness is not at all the same as before. Although I try to go out and walk – fortunately I live in the private sector. Already mowed the lawn! So I’m moving on to a more active lifestyle. It’s very difficult for me to do nothing. I try to learn foreign languages, read, watch programs, but at the same time I have to move.
– On what day did the temperature return to normal?
– It’s hard to say, because she was jumping: in the morning, let’s say, she was normal, and in the evening she rose to 37 degrees.
– Mom passed the test?
“Not yet, she has no symptoms. But I worry about her more than myself. After all, older people carry the disease harder. To prevent my mother from getting infected, from the very beginning, as far as possible, we delimited the space in the house: I, as I have already said, have my own thermometer, my cups, we do not breathe on each other.
– What advice would you give to people who have not been spared by the coronavirus? How to get back to normal faster?
– The doctors recommended me to drink plenty of fluids and minimal physical activity. Even if the condition has returned to normal, you should not rush to return to your previous active lifestyle, because a second wave of deterioration may occur. It happened to my good friend. After five days of isolation, he felt quite normal, returned to business, drove around the city all day, and when he returned, he found that his temperature had risen and his general condition worsened. And for eight days in a hospital, they could not bring down his temperature. It turned out that he had pneumonia. The fact that a person begins to feel better is not yet a reason to rejoice, you need to remember that you are still in a zone of certain risk.
– Wrestling is a contact sport. How do you see your sport in a situation if the pandemic continues for a long period?
– It is difficult to answer, because even if one person in the national team is infected, in a matter of days the disease will cover most of the athletes. If a safe vaccine is found, that will be the way out in the future. In addition, people who have been ill have a certain immunity. True, after a while it disappears and you can get sick again.
– Do you think that if the pandemic drags on for years, some sports will sink into oblivion?
– No, this will not happen. I think the pandemic will last a year or two at the most. It is important that a vaccine is found. The whole world is interested in this and is working on it. In the meantime, there is no vaccine, even the first persons of states are sick with coronavirus.
– Many people want to keep fit and cannot imagine life without a gym. How to minimize the risk of infection by exercising on simulators?
– The addiction is to touch your face with your hands. It is necessary to abandon it, no matter how difficult it is. Accustom yourself to this! You should not communicate at close range with people who train in the gym, and with the coach. Wash and disinfect your hands! If you follow everything, you can protect yourself as much as possible from infection. At the same time, I would advise not to dwell on the fear of infection. After all, some people practically do not leave the house. This is too much, because life goes on. And at the same time, do not put yourself in danger again. If you go to an event where you will not be able to keep your distance from those present, then the chances of getting sick increase significantly. And if you are walking in the park and just in case you have a disinfectant and a mask in your pocket that you can put on at any time if necessary, this is enough.
– What do you think humanity and each of us should understand as a result of the pandemic?
– I think people will learn to take a more responsible and careful attitude to their health and those around them. Coronavirus is an insidious disease. At the slightest symptoms, it is better to do a test, taking into account what the consequences may be.
– What would you wish the readers of “FACTS”?
– Temperatures 36.6 degrees and good health. Go in for sports, because if a person has good immunity, then the coronavirus passes quite easily and without dire consequences for the body. And more optimism, of course! May everyone be fine. Take care of yourself!