R. Gracie is considered one of the greats in the history of jiu-jitsu. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @rogergracie
As the days go by and more deaths are confirmed as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, more people are taking a responsible role in dealing with one of the biggest health crises in history. Recently recovered from illness, the jiu-jistu icon, Roger gracie, spoke about the situation he experienced when he developed the illness and warned people.
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“I caught the virus. I recovered two weeks ago. I felt really bad, in bed. It's good to talk about it, because a lot of people have no idea exactly what it is, they think they won't be affected, that they'll never get there. I spent ten days in bed, with a 40 degree fever and cough. I felt short of breath one day, thankfully it didn't progress. I woke up at dawn with my heart racing and short of breath. I called the ambulance, I even got into it. They did the tests, called the head of medicine and thought it would be better for me to stay at home”, reported Gracie in an interview with 'Combate'.
Aware of the duty to inform fans about the real dangers of the disease, which has already claimed thousands of lives around the world, Roger took the opportunity to issue a warning to everyone who follows his career in martial arts.
“It’s good for people to know I caught it. There are a lot of friends I talked to who thought I wouldn't get it because I was healthy and young. There are a lot of people dying. A friend of a friend, in Italy, was a marathon runner, was 35 years old and died. My teacher's girlfriend's cousin is 30 years old and is hospitalized. And there are thousands we don't know about. Awareness needs to be raised. The disease really affects the frailest, the oldest, but also other people. You can't neglect it. It’s no joke”, concluded the athlete.
Multi-time jiu-jitsu champion and with performances in MMA - including a stint in the UFC in 2013 -, Roger today dedicates himself to managing his gyms that teach about the 'gentle art'. The fighter has been retired since 2017.
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