'Long Covid is real': former athlete warns about debilitating battle after coronavirus

Will Smith, now 24 years old, caught Covid-19 in March 2020 after returning to Melbourne from Boston. The young Victorian had spent four years on the Northeastern University's rowing team, training more than 12 times a week. Although being diagnosed with a ‘mild condition’ and not requiring hospitalisation, he has been battling long Covid ever since. ‘I still couldn't walk around the block without getting light-headed and needing to lie down, struggling to breathe,’ he told media at Victoria’s daily Covid press conference