In the book “Therese Johaug – the whole story”, the former long distance star tells, among other things, how she struggled with her weight and how to feed herself. In 2011, she Johaug received indications of malnutrition and she writes in the book that she has reached a point where she thought she would get better if she weighed less.
Swedish biathlon star Hanna Öberg also had problems with her diet. Öberg talks about what happened during WC 2021.
– I pulled out a lot during a race and after that I was unable to fill up. Then I didn’t get the results I wanted, in two races I couldn’t perform according to the form and skills I had, he says.
– It opened my eyes that nutrition is a very important topic.
From worked hard with the diet.
– It is very important for me to have good margins, especially during the summer. I shouldn’t be in the red anywhere, I should have some room to train in a good way.
Photo: Terje Pedersen
The Swedish national biathlon team works with sports nutritionist Linda Bakkman, affiliated with the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK).
– It taught me a lot, especially on a race day, how much it costs in energy and how to make sure I get what I need. As a recovery goal right after finishing, says Hanna Öberg.
– We also did different types of diet logging, blood glucose measurements and body composition measurements continuously throughout the year to track proper energy intake.
Photo: Anders Wiklund / TT
Even the little sister Elvira, who really made it last season and finished second in the World Cup, thinks nutrition is an important issue.
– We have a great need for energy and it can sometimes be difficult to satisfy that need. But it is a question that I feel very confident about, what are my needs in food and how I will meet them. I feel very confident in that, and I’m thankful I don’t have to think about it, she says.
Elvira Öberg believes it is good that the debate about the weight and energy needs of elite athletes has normalized.
– It’s incredibly good that more is being talked about. I am very open about how I did it and what challenges I face with the diet. Until now, for me, it was just about eating enough, getting as much energy as possible. It is not possible to overeat.
