"I associated it with a lot of mental illness"

Jenny Rissveds would like to have a new Olympic medal. Despite the gold in Rio leaving such tracks. There is a pride in being an Olympic champion. At the same time, it became for me that I associated it with a lot of mental illness, says the mountain biker.

» Published: July 27 2024

"I associated it with a lot of mental illness"
Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

Jenny Rissveds would like to have a new Olympic medal.

Despite the fact that the gold in Rio left such marks.

There is a pride in being an Olympic champion. At the same time, it became for me that I associated it with a lot of mental illness, says the mountain biker.

If you're going to compete in mountain biking at the highest level, you have to be able to take a beating. The scar on Jenny Rissveds' upper lip bears witness to that.

It was another rider who crashed into me in a high-speed party. And then I landed on one of the children's markers that slashed my lip. It was almost like someone had cut me with a knife, says the 30-year-old about the crash in a competition in May.

But I'm not that bothered about it. I think it gives a little character.

Gold shock

The mental blows, on the other hand, have affected her more. Rissveds went from unknown to nationally known when she took an unexpected Olympic gold in Rio 2016, but stopped cycling the following year and was then away for almost two years while fighting depression, eating disorders, and exhaustion.

In the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, it was 14th place, but rather than disappointment, she expressed relief afterwards about "not having to bear that title".

Since I was so open and talked about how I felt, it became that the Olympic gold just became bad. Everyone else interpreted it that way, but it wasn't. It was a part of bad associations, but it was also a lot, a lot of pride in it, says Rissveds.

She reflects all the time on what it means to be an elite athlete. Her team, Team 31, is named after the 31st article of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and has an explicit focus that is more about inspiring young people than chasing results.

Medals not everything

But the competitive moment is still important, says Rissveds ahead of her third Olympic start, on Sunday at Colline d'Élancourt (Élancourtkullen) outside Paris.

I think about medals and results. But I don't let it take over. Then I would be super proud if I manage to take a medal.

Balancing is a key word. Listening to your body, but also understanding that elite sports costs, that it hurts and is fundamentally unhealthy.

What does your body say now?

That it's calm, which is very nice. I feel calm and relaxed. And safe. I don't feel overly confident, but I don't feel like it's a catastrophe either.

You thought it was nice to get rid of the role as Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo. Would you like to take it back now?

I would feel more proud. Directly, like. Right now. And it's a good feeling.

Born: June 6, 1994 (30 years old), in Falun.

Lives: Falun.

Sport: Mountain biking.

Club: Team 31.

International merits (in the Olympic cross-country discipline): Olympic gold 2016, 14th at the 2021 Olympics, U23 World Championship gold 2016, several World Cup wins.

Other: Awarded the Victoria Scholarship 2017.

Current: Makes her third Olympic start on Sunday, in the cross-country discipline.

Tags

TTT
By TT - Translated and adapted by Sweden Herald

More news

Piastri Takes Jeddah Win Ahead
2 MIN READ

Piastri Takes Jeddah Win Ahead of Verstappen

Barcelona Crushes Chelsea 4-1 in
2 MIN READ

Barcelona Crushes Chelsea 4-1 in Champions League Semifinal

Brazilian Upsets World Number One
1 MIN READ

Brazilian Upsets World Number One to Win Table Tennis World Cup

Billborn Fumes: "Even in Division
3 MIN READ

Billborn Fumes: "Even in Division 7, That's Unacceptable"

Arsenal Delays Liverpool's Title Celebration
2 MIN READ

Arsenal Delays Liverpool's Title Celebration

Celina's Classy Goal Secures AIK's
2 MIN READ

Celina's Classy Goal Secures AIK's Top Spot in Allsvenskan

Djurgården's Fallenius Out for Spring
1 MIN READ

Djurgården's Fallenius Out for Spring Season with Fracture

Lewandowski Faces Three-Week Layoff, May
1 MIN READ

Lewandowski Faces Three-Week Layoff, May Miss CL Semifinal

Fleury Praises Gustavsson's Cool Composure
3 MIN READ

Fleury Praises Gustavsson's Cool Composure as Minnesota's Top Goalie

Ingrid Lindblad Tied for First
2 MIN READ

Ingrid Lindblad Tied for First in Thrilling LPGA Tournament Battle

Verstappen Secures Pole in Jeddah
1 MIN READ

Verstappen Secures Pole in Jeddah After Norris Crash

Isak Struggles as Newcastle Falls
1 MIN READ

Isak Struggles as Newcastle Falls 4-1 to Aston Villa

Brynäs Edges Luleå in Overtime
2 MIN READ

Brynäs Edges Luleå in Overtime Thriller to Lead Championship Series

Rangers and Anaheim Dismiss Head
1 MIN READ

Rangers and Anaheim Dismiss Head Coaches After Missing Playoffs

Norrköping's Quickfire Goals Secure Crucial
2 MIN READ

Norrköping's Quickfire Goals Secure Crucial Win Over Halmstad

Felicia Schröder Shines as Häcken
2 MIN READ

Felicia Schröder Shines as Häcken Secures Second Consecutive Victory

Lyon Edges Arsenal 2-1, Eyes
2 MIN READ

Lyon Edges Arsenal 2-1, Eyes 12th Champions League Final

Tuva Skoog Shines with Two
1 MIN READ

Tuva Skoog Shines with Two Goals in Malmö FF's 4-1 Victory Over AIK

Sweden Takes Sixth in Ice
1 MIN READ

Sweden Takes Sixth in Ice Hockey World Championship After Close Loss

Marcus Kinhult's Birdie Blitz Propels
1 MIN READ

Marcus Kinhult's Birdie Blitz Propels Him Up 39 Spots in Shanghai

AIK's Christoffer Björk Likely Out
1 MIN READ

AIK's Christoffer Björk Likely Out for Season After Knee Injury

Andreas Johansson Named Head Coach
1 MIN READ

Andreas Johansson Named Head Coach of Södertälje Sports Club

Robots Struggle in First Human
1 MIN READ

Robots Struggle in First Human vs. Machine Half-Marathon in Beijing

Casper Ruud Applauds Victor Hedman's
2 MIN READ

Casper Ruud Applauds Victor Hedman's Leadership in Tampa Bay

Miami Secures Playoff Spot with
1 MIN READ

Miami Secures Playoff Spot with Overtime Win Over Atlanta

Ingrid Lindblad Shines with Career-Best
2 MIN READ

Ingrid Lindblad Shines with Career-Best Round at LPGA in Los Angeles

Gyökeres Hat-Trick Secures Sporting Lisbon's
1 MIN READ

Gyökeres Hat-Trick Secures Sporting Lisbon's Lead Over Moreirense

Elias Pettersson Urged to Improve
2 MIN READ

Elias Pettersson Urged to Improve Training by Canucks Coach Tocchet

Swedish Beach Volleyball Duo Exits
1 MIN READ

Swedish Beach Volleyball Duo Exits World Championship in Brazil

Dallas Stars Face Playoffs Without
1 MIN READ

Dallas Stars Face Playoffs Without Top Scorer Jason Robertson

Ludvig Åberg Struggles to Find
1 MIN READ

Ludvig Åberg Struggles to Find Form at RBC Heritage

Djurgården's Grewe Criticizes AIK Forward
2 MIN READ

Djurgården's Grewe Criticizes AIK Forward for Alleged Spearing Incident

NHL's Forsberg Eager for World
2 MIN READ

NHL's Forsberg Eager for World Championship, But Confirmation Pending

Thoresen's Pep Talk Fuels Djurgården's
3 MIN READ

Thoresen's Pep Talk Fuels Djurgården's Stunning Comeback Victory

Mjällby Defeats Hammarby 3-1, Ending
2 MIN READ

Mjällby Defeats Hammarby 3-1, Ending Winning Streak

Malmö FF Held to Draw
2 MIN READ

Malmö FF Held to Draw by Sirius: "Supporters Deserve Better"