Per "Pliggen", who is a doctor at the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK) and the Swedish cross-country national team, alerts about a form of burnout in athletes in endurance sports, mainly women.
Difficulties in balancing diet, exercise and recovery lead to athletes being forced to time out.
Two known cases are cross-country skiers Frida Karlsson and Ingvild Flugstad Östberg.
Björgen: "Be patient"
Norwegian Marit Björgen is one of the most successful cross-country skiers of all time and she is pessimistic when it comes to finding a solution that works for everyone.
- It is a challenge in top sports.
I do not think we will get rid of this forever but have to live with it, she tells TT.
Börgen gives advice to talents who are at the beginning of their careers and risk having problems like this:
- Here it is important to have patience and really listen to the body.
Two cross-country skiers who
"Very difficult problem"
Former national team skier Mia Karlsson is the mother and manager of Frida Karlsson and a long-time ski leader in Sollefteå.
- It is a very difficult problem, but it can be solved.
It is about de-dramatizing and providing the right information.
Here it is important to go through the three-sided triangle from primary school, which is about exercising, eating and sleeping, she says.
Karlsson tells how in Sollefteå you have coffee breaks after each workout.
Frida Karlsson and national team colleague Ebba Andersson have grown up with this.
- We do this not only because it is cozy, but to teach the young people that when you have trained, you fill up, says Karlsson.