Former Oregon Star Had The Virus In April And Has Only Recently Put Long-Haul Symptoms Behind Her

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

English Gardner joined an USATF Zoom press conference Tuesday from the Portland airport as she makes her way to a homecoming at Eugene's Hayward Field for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. 

Gardner, who starred at Oregon and won the NCAA women's 100-meter dash before turning pro in 2013, has experienced peaks and valleys as a professional. 

She won the 2016 Olympic Trials 100 meters in 10.74, her personal-best time, before going on to finish seventh at the Rio Games. 

She has also endured a series of leg injuries. 

But what she went through in April, when she contracted COVID-19, was something altogether different. 

"It's been terrible, to be honest," Gardner said. "I had everything from muscle cramping, leg pain, joint swelling, an entire body rash, extreme fatigue and respiratory problems."

The virus that has altered life around the world has also affected athletes in myriad ways over the past 15 months, including the delaying of the Trials and the Tokyo Olympic Games. The official death toll to COVID-19 in the U.S. surpassed 600,000 this week. 

The USATF/Olympic Trials COVID Protocols is a 27-page manual and will shape nearly every aspect of the 10-day meet.

For Gardner and other athletes who battled the virus, it has been a difficult experience. 

"I had the opportunity of training and building a great foundation for the year, and then I was down for a month," she said. "And so, I just started to train again and run again. I unfortunately was having long-hauler symptoms. This is the first week where I feel like a real person. It's definitely something that makes you appreciate what you do, appreciate the sport, and appreciate life."

Gardner tried to engage with a racing schedule in early May and her first attempt was at the USATF Golden Games at Mt. SAC in Walnut, Calif. on May 9. She ran 11.29 in a prelim and came to the final and ran 11.50 for eighth place. 

"I was able to run fast and compete, but I couldn't come back for a second round," she said. 

Finally, she has beaten it, and said "I feel like a conqueror," as she prepares for the women's 100-meter first round Friday evening. 

"I have nothing to lose, everything to gain," she said. 

Last Saturday, she gained some confidence at the High Performance Domestic Opportunity meet in Olney, Md., running a prelim round in 11.23 and a final in 11.13. 

She knows it will take something even faster to make a U.S. team, but Gardner is celebrating every opportunity. 

"(COVID) made me work a little bit harder to try and come back and compete at this Trials," she said. 

On a lighter note, she is looking forward to seeing the rebuilt Hayward Field for the first time, and the concessions stand called "English's Garden." She didn't have any input into the food and beverage offerings but she did have a chance to offer some design input. 

"I'm probably not going to bring my money when I got to the concession stand. I'm just going to show my ID," she joked. "Hopefully that will get me a free meal."