Tiril Eckhoff came into the 2021/22 Olympic season as the reigning overall World Cup champion – but her first podium came only at the Beijing Olympics in February where it ended up being a medal of every denomination.

- It has been a very tough journey and I was very low in December, she told SVT Sport after the first World Cup victory after the Olympics in Kontiolahti in March.

She then ended the season in the best possible way by winning two out of three individual competitions in Holmenkollen.

The revenge was a fact.

But then came new blows.

Eckhoff was affected by corona and had major problems with sleep.

- It started with corona and then I trained a lot while not listening to my body.

I really wanted to give something back to everyone who stood up for me.

You could say I experienced a small life crisis, she says to Norwegian TV2.

"Lived under great pressure in recent years"

Outwardly on social media, she presented a completely different picture of what was going on.

- I struggled with sleep for a long time.

I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

It was really serious but I have received very good help from the medical team, she says and continues:

- When I heard about others who had sleep problems in the past, I thought "but my God, how hard can it be?", but it's terrible, I've realized that now.

Tiril Eckhoff wins this year's World Cup.

Photo: Bildbyrån

She also says that she tried to solve the sleep problems with meditation and yoga, but that there were also many tears and a lot of thoughts.

- I think it is a mixture of corona and the fact that I have lived under great pressure in recent years.

I am a person with a lot of emotions and get stressed easily.

Here Tiril Eckhoff secures the World Cup victory in 2021:

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Tiril Eckhoff wins this year's World Cup.

Photo: Bildbyrån