The Norwegian men’s national cross-country skiing team is calling for more openness related to weight and nutrition in top sports.
SOGNSVANN (Nettavisen): Once again, unhealthy dieting has come into focus before a cross-country skiing season.
Marit Bjørgen recently put the topic on the agenda when she in the book «Winner heart. The story of Marit Bjørgen »addresses issues related to eating disorders in the cross-country environment.
In the book, author Ingerid Stenvold writes that Bjørgen witnessed challenges around eating, body and food through 20 years on the national team.
«As an eternal shadow side of the performance culture, but also as a result of an increasing focus on body and appearance. Marit thinks again of the social media and mobile phones that did not exist in her upbringing and adolescence, and of the constant stream of glossy images and unattainable idols that young people today are exposed to “, writes Stenvold.
This autumn, VG has also focused on the topic with a separate series of articles where several have come forward and told about problems with eating disorders.
The debate about the weight focus in cross-country skiing has therefore not gone unnoticed among Norway’s best athletes.
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– Et problem
Reigning world champion in 15 kilometers, Hans Christer Holund, acknowledges that cross-country skiing also has its challenges associated with unhealthy dieting.
– It is definitely a problem. It is something we want to have as little as possible of, but it is not only in cross-country skiing that it is a problem. No matter what sport you carry your own body in, it will always be a problem. But that does not mean that you should not do something about it, says Holund to Nettavisen.
– I am not an expert here, but it is important to address it and help as many people as possible from ending up in such a situation, says the world champion.
None of the athletes Nettavisen talks to on Monday know of any problems in their own training group, but national team colleague Sjur Røthe believes the ongoing debate is a big step in the right direction.
– First and foremost, it is great that it is put on the agenda, that that challenge is looked at, says Røthe.
Vossingen believes that knowledge and openness are the key to overcoming the problem.
– I also think it is important that we train good coaches in nutrition, that coaches for athletes at a younger age are good at making sure that the athletes get enough food and that they are good at catching those they see have a problem with that, Røthe explains.
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Misunderstandings
National team coach Eirik Myhr Nossum thinks several have formed a wrong picture of how the world’s best cross-country skiers live to claim the top spot.
– There are many who have a glossy image relationship to the fact that we live so damn healthy, Nossum says to Nettavisen.
– I think many have had a brilliant picture that we are so careful with sugar and that we eat healthy all the time. We do not do that in any way. They get what they need and if they do not, they do not have a chance.
He believes the cross-country national team can take self-criticism for that.
– I think we have been too bad to be role models in this.
– For my part, I am taken a little to bed over the fact that people do not think we eat as we do. Even people close to me have a shining image relationship to what they think we eat. Then it is no wonder that many others have a glossy image relationship to it and get what I call misunderstandings related to how to be good and therefore resort to shortcuts, says Nossum to Nettavisen.
Also read: The ski association asked Bjørgen to cover up: – Limited to bullying
Iversen: – Maybe need to get better at showing it off
National team runner Emil Iversen has also joined the debate and believes, like his national team colleagues, that more openness will be crucial to prevent more cases in the future.
– On all the teams I have been on, there has been a relaxed relationship with it. We eat ordinary Norwegian food spiced with some sweets and ice cream – safety food because we exercise so insanely much. We may have to become better at showing it off, says Iversen to Nettavisen.
He himself has tried to be very open about it.
– I like to talk about it and even though I am very serious, I have had a desire to show that it is important to have a good time. I have often talked about that. I think it is important that you enjoy yourself a little and that it does not become too serious. I have tried to face that, says Iversen.
It will also be in focus for Trøndelag in the future.
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