China’s most famous bodybuilding doctor is on the front lines of the fight against coronavirus.
Yuan Herong, a bodybuilding doctor from China who gained viral fame over Instagram, has been deeply involved in the fight against coronavirus as the pandemic rages. Although reported cases have slowed down to a trickle in mainland China, specifically Wuhan (where the disease originated), the insight provided by doctors in China who helped curb the epidemic will be greatly needed by other countries as the disease continues to spread.
Herong has shared various updates about her experiences treating the disease on her Instagram and proves what it takes to make a difference while being a female Asian bodybuilder.
Despite China’s medical infrastructure being overwhelmed by the virus, Herong has still found time for her athletic pursuits outside the hospital. In addition to the amazing work she has done as a doctor, she has also continued to show up in the gym and make incredible gains. She shares updates from the gym regularly as she is now a true face for Chinese bodybuilding.
The coronavirus pandemic has rocked the entire world, but Herong is an inspiring example of someone who has done their absolute most to improve the situation while still holding onto the normalcy of her life. She remains devoted to her work as a doctor while still setting aside some of her free time for her passion for bodybuilding and fitness.
Obviously, the pandemic is no laughing matter. Herong cites a patient who was suffering from “severe anemia” as a result of the disease whom she recently treated. Cases of coronavirus have leveled off in China; the steps experts took there to curb the spread of the virus are now being emulated in countries like Iran, Italy, and the US as they try to stem the flow of the bacteria. However, experts from the CDC and WHO predict that the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better, and that the vast majority of coronavirus cases around the world remain undiagnosed due to the scarcity of COVID-19 tests.
It should be inspiring to those of us in countries still feeling the effects of the pandemic to see Yuan Herong return to her life in the gym. It’s a reminder that, if we take all the responsible precautions to lessen the impact of this pandemic on our healthcare system, things can return to normal relatively quickly and easily. We should all do our part, as Herong as done, to help the people around us and be mindful of the impact we have on others. If you live in the US, the CDC is still advising a two-week quarantine period of “social distancing” in order to stop the spread of the disease. This means staying away from your favorite bars, theaters, and places of worship for a few weeks. Gatherings with large groups of people are also ill-advised. If we all do our part to fight this battle, the pandemic may be over before we know it! Follow Yuan Herong Instagram for her updates and to see how she juggles all of this.
The coronavirus has led to a major upset in the pro bodybuilding space as well, leading to various postponements and cancellations of major bodybuilding events such as the Arnold Classic Australia, South America, and Africa. It was also just recently announced by Jim Manion, president of the IFBB, that all US pro shows have been cancelled or postponed through May 10th.
*All images and media courtesy of Instagram.
