'I was not OK': Canadian defender Shelina Zadorsky details recent medical ordeal

Canadian defender Shelina Zadorsky says she has emerged from a medical ordeal that started in mid-December when she found out she had COVID.

The 30-year-old from Kitchener, Ont., who has won 89 caps for Canada and captains England's Tottenham, is now back in training.

But in a social media post and video, Zadorsky details how her health deteriorated.

"In my own experience over the last three-and-a-half months, I have been dealing with health challenges relating to COVID, illness, fatigue and honestly every sick symptom you can name," wrote Zadorsky. "First let me say this is not a poor victim-me story, not is it to say that people haven't gone through MUCH WORSE than I can probably ever relate to. However, it's simply where I am at.

"And secondly, I've found that there's great agony in bearing an untold story inside of you."

Zadorsky says she took six days off over Christmas to recover from COVID. Returning to training, she says "the amount of flus and colds I picked up could not be counted on one hand."

"You brave the smile, you downplay how sick you feel, and you march on," she wrote. "Meanwhile, only the people who are closest to you know your energy is depleting and they take the brunt of that downfall."

In February, Zadorsky contracted COVID again. But after testing negative, she joined the Canadian team in Orlando for the SheBelieves Cup.

After missing training and the tournament opener against the U.S. because she felt unwell, she played 45 minutes against Brazil and the full 90 against Japan before returning to England with an FA Cup game against Reading looming three days later.

"I finally told my [Tottenham] coach that I was not physically or mentally prepared to be at my best for the team. For once I was