Me as an athlete
I started Speed skating Short Track at the age of 4 years old. I can remember the first step I took with two orange cones. Loved it from day one, and quickly the cones was gone and I could skate on my own. I always knew that skating was the sport I liked the most. Does not matter if I have had a ruff day, month or season not getting the results I wanted, I always wanted more and still to this day I still do want to skate more. It is the feeling on the ice that is hard to describe.
What it is that makes you want to go faster get better technical or just skate a lot every week? A question hard to answer. For me it is just a feeling that I am home in my environment when I skate.
Coming from Sweden, the sport environment at a young age encourage athletes to try different sports. Other than skating I tried horseback riding, handball, floor-ball, dance, track and field and even boule. You learn a lot from trying many sports at a young age. The best thing is that you probably be drawn to 1 or 2 that you really like. For me it was always skating.
Looking back on all training I have done I never regret it. I have learned a lot, understanding how to compromise in a team, how different sports have different rules to follow for it to work. Sports can bring people together, learn how to be helpful in a team, how to handle being in a position when you win or lose.
I have trained and competed in and outside of Sweden for many years. Traveled to countries close and far from home. Been on low and high level of different sports. For over 20 years I have been a part of the Swedish National Short Track Speed skating Team. During the time I have skated World Cups, World Championships, European Championships and made the Olympics 2010 Qualification, but could not attend the event. If you never try you will never know that is my motto in life.
I switched 2020 from Short track to Long track Speed skating. The big difference is that you go from 111m to 400m skating track on ice. Different technique and materials and going from many skaters on the same track to only yourself on the track. Now I will try to see how far I can go in Long Track.
(Me in the picture helmet 92, next second I get up in the front)
