Marlen Reusser reveals in emotional documentary that she is chronically ill: "You do nothing, yet you just get sicker"

Reusser had a strong start to the season, claiming both a stage win and the overall victory at the Tour of Valencia. But things went wrong in April when she crashed hard at the Tour of Flanders, breaking eight teeth, her jaw, and both ear canals. Her focus shifted to recovery, with the goal of being ready in time for the Olympics and the World Championships on home soil.

However, the Paris Olympics slipped away as Reusser’s health began to deteriorate in early summer. Feeling unwell, she was forced to miss the Olympic Games. The cause of her illness was unclear, which made things even more frustrating. After numerous tests, the diagnosis finally came: Reusser is suffering from post-COVID syndrome. Unfortunately, the diagnosis offers little clarity, as not much is known about the condition or how to effectively treat it.

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In the documentary, an emotional Marlen Reusser opens up about her illness. "I am currently chronically ill. There are moments when it gets better and times when it gets worse. But I don’t feel well," she says. "I heard the diagnosis, but I didn’t want to admit it, and I could barely believe it. The problem is, you do something and it only makes you sicker."

Through tears, the SD-Worx Protime rider tries to stay hopeful. "I need a lot of patience. And I don’t know if I’m scared, because I’m aware that there are people who won’t get better. What happens next is beyond your control. The focus is on my well-being. The goal is to get healthy again."