Gordon Ryan, the exceptional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu prodigy, has finally been discharged from the hospital following a grueling 40-day antibiotic treatment. It was a challenging battle against an unbeatable strain of Strep throat, but thanks to the powerful medicine, his life was ultimately saved. This infection not only kept him away from the action for several months but also exacerbated his pre-existing stomach problems, leaving him feeling helpless and contemplating early retirement.
Currently facing health setbacks, Gordon is unable to showcase his incredible talents in competitions. The hospitalization has led him to consider the possibility of surgery to overcome these challenges, resulting in an uncertain timeline for his eagerly awaited return to the sport he deeply loves. Nonetheless, Gordon’s unrivaled skills and remarkable contributions to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu have left an indelible mark on the sport’s history. We eagerly await his comeback, as he continues to inspire and captivate us with his extraordinary abilities.
Gordon Ryan took to social media to share a candid post about his ongoing and devastating medical challenges, which are severely impacting his career in the foreseeable future.
“Everyone posts their best. Be confident enough to post your worst,” Ryan wrote on Instagram. “This post is simply to update everyone on my current athletic status. I’m not asking for sympathy or help, and in fact, would prefer if you lose faith in me so I can prove you wrong like I always do. The last time I was this size, (201 lbs., 20+ lbs. this week) I was 21 years old. When I got the strep in early March, my ears became so inflamed that every time I elevated my heart rate I felt my head would explode. It’s been two months since I’ve been able to do any intense activity. I spoke with my doctor and got the silicone stints taken out of my nose and I’m told I cant start lifting for another three weeks and training for roughly two months. This will make three months of zero activity and five months of no training. That, coupled with the fact that over 40 days of antibiotics wasn’t great for my stomach, it’s safe to say I have a long road back to competition.”
Fans in the comments section are expressing their astonishment and pointing fingers at steroids as the possible cause.
“My focus now, as an athlete, is on getting healthy and helping my teammates and students prepare for matches,” Ryan continued. “No matter how ill I’ve been, there’s nothing worse than not being there to help them prepare for upcoming matches, and not being there to give John Danaher the Gordon he deserves. My goal in this sport is simple: double gold in ADCC until I’m 40 years old and have more ADCC medals than Buchecha has world titles. That being said, for five years now, my body, specifically my immune system and stomach have been barely cooperating with this plan. Given the time I’ve missed to nurse my pathetic body back to health, it may be difficult long term to stay ahead of the curve I was once far ahead of. I have done so thus far and have no intention of letting those down to depend on me. The goal isn’t to be in the mix having fun. Winning, that’s what’s fun for me. I will attempt to, and succeed at staying on top until my body quits on me completely. Doctor prescribed antibiotics are as much a gift as they are a curse. Theyve saved my life a fair amount of times, yet also ruined it. Antibiotics have done my body more harm than anything else in my life. Thank you for being patient with my competition schedule. Just know, when I come back, boy, will I be back.”
At just 27 years old, Gordon Ryan has been absent from competition since his remarkable victory over longtime rival Nicky Rodriguez at Fight Pass Invitational 3 last year. Unfortunately, his highly anticipated return against Felipe Pena at Tezos WNO earlier this year had to be canceled due to the need to prioritize his recurring health issues.
Based on the available information, it seems unlikely that we will witness Ryan’s comeback until sometime in 2024. However, as evident from the shared post above, despite enduring numerous challenges just to maintain a normal lifestyle, ‘The King’ remains resolute in his determination to make a comeback and reclaim his position at the pinnacle of the grappling world.
