The case of Pau Gasol, one of the most prominent figures in Spanish sports and a former NBA player for 18 seasons, is particularly significant. Gasol was one of the patients treated with cultured mesenchymal cells at the Institute of Regenerative Tissue Therapy (ITRT). This treatment was part of a long and complex recovery process that, along with his own physical effort, rest, and ongoing preparation, ultimately made his participation in the Tokyo Olympic Games possible.
In the Amazon Prime documentary Pau Gasol: It’s All About the Journey, we follow the athlete through his full recovery as he aims for his fifth Olympic appearance. The four-part series highlights key moments in which Gasol worked intensely to recover from a scaphoid injury in his left foot that had kept him off the court for several months. Throughout his recovery, he faced numerous challenges. Despite the setbacks, Gasol never stopped pushing forward—he explored alternative ways to stay active and always kept alive the real possibility of competing again.
Watch the documentary Pau Gasol: It’s About the Journey
What were Pau Gasol’s first years like after the injury?
Gasol’s diagnosis was far from straightforward. In addition to the injury he sustained in November 2018, he experienced several setbacks, adverse medical reports, and two surgeries that seemed to push him further away from his Olympic dream. However, he showed remarkable determination and an unwavering commitment to his recovery.
What neither Pau Gasol nor the rest of the world could have anticipated was the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic—an unexpected turn that gave him extra time to recover due to the rescheduling of the Olympic Games, but also slowed down his rehabilitation process.
The goal: the Tokyo Olympic Games
Before the world came to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pau Gasol decided to explore alternative options that could help him return to the court. This led him to place his trust in the Institute of Regenerative Tissue Therapy (ITRT).
At ITRT, Gasol began treatment with cultured mesenchymal cells as part of the regeneration process for his left foot. He achieved very positive results, which—combined with periods of rest, targeted physical preparation, and intense personal effort—enabled him to return to competition at the age of 41, despite an initially discouraging prognosis.
Pau Gasol’s Journey Concluded in Tokyo
The results of his recovery process were so positive that, once his foot began to show significant improvement, Gasol ramped up his physical training with the goal of joining a team that would help him move closer to the Olympic Games.
He didn’t just make it to Tokyo. His recovery gave him something even more valuable: the chance to play with his children again and share unique moments with them. Because sometimes, the greatest things are found in the everyday.
As shown in the Amazon Prime documentary, Pau Gasol took that first step by signing with Barça—the club where he had made his professional debut 20 years earlier. With them, he won the ACB championship and reached the EuroLeague final, completing his preparation for the Olympic Games.
After a long recovery process supported by ITRT, the Catalan basketball player finally made it to the Tokyo Olympic Games, where he competed in his fifth Olympic appearance. Following the Games, he announced his retirement after a 20-year professional career and was appointed that same year as a member of the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission.
Pau Gasol’s story is truly inspiring—not only for the relentless effort and determination he showed throughout his recovery, but also for having found an effective treatment—such as ITRT’s cultured mesenchymal cell therapy—that, combined with his commitment and discipline, allowed him to end his career on the court, competing at the highest level.
You can watch the full documentary on Amazon Prime. If you are dealing with a tendon injury and want to recover, let this story inspire you and book your appointment here.
