Evan Fournier talks about the aftermath of his illness: “My vision was blurry”

French basketball player Evan Fournier, who plays for the Boston Celtics in the NBA, said he felt vision problems a month after his infection with Covid-19. Consequences that affect his level of play.

THE ESSENTIAL

Evan Fournier was arrested three weeks in April after his Covid-19 infection.
Upon his return, he was very clumsy and testified that his vision was blurry, he had difficulty concentrating and perceiving depth.
Last night, he regained his feelings and his skill, compiling 21 points at 8/10 on shots.

The Covid spares no one, not even top athletes. French basketball player Evan Fournier, who plays in the Boston Celtics NBA franchise, spoke this Sunday, May 2, about the vision problems that have handicapped him since his contamination with SARS-CoV-2 in early April. “I felt very weird, to be honest. I had planned to stop talking about it thinking it would help me, but it felt like I had a concussion. Right now it’s a little better, but at first the bright lights bothered my eyes and my vision was blurry”, he shared with the American media ESPN after his team’s loss to the Portland Blazers.

“Hard to concentrate”

The 28-year-old player from Saint-Maurice (Val-de-Marne) was sidelined for three weeks in April because of his infection. His return to competition was complicated and the Frenchman was very clumsy, only succeeding in five games played, 5 shots out of 31 attempts (21% success). “Everything was going too fast for mehe testified. It’s always like that. Some things are better, but sometimes I really have a hard time concentrating and my eyes have a hard time focusing on one thing. My depth perception is really bad right now. But I saw a specialist, and she gave me some exercises and I hope it will improve.“Last night, despite the defeat of his team, he managed to set the sights and regained his skill (8/10 on shots for 21 points).

The French international (69 selections) is aware that he is undergoing what many Covid patients have to face on a daily basis. He is not the only one of his team to have post-Covid consequences. His American teammate Jayson Tatum, star of the team and great hope of American basketball, took several weeks to find his best level after being sick. He recently revealed that he has to use an inhaler before matches, something he didn’t do before. “The things I feel apparently affect a third of people who have also contracted the Covid, continued Evan Fournier. So I am not an isolated case. Some people have lost their taste or smell. For me, it’s just my (visual) perception… It’s another meaning. But it will get better. It’s already a little better there. But I will continue to work. I can’t skip matches or training because I’m not feeling well mentally. If my body is operational, I must be available.”

A Ligue 1 football player also concerned

Other top athletes suffer from post-Covid syndrome. This is particularly the case of Jean-Kevin Augustin, footballer at FC Nantes. On March 4, in a statementthe Canaries explained that their striker “is still suffering the consequences of a Covid-19 infection, which is similar to the so-called long Covid syndrome”. One “strict medical protocol” was put in place before for the former Paris Saint-Germain player to regain his full fitness. His club has indicated that we will not see Jean-Kevin Augustin again with the professionals this year and that he will continue to train with the reserve team until the end of the season.