Sebastian Samuelsson debuted in the World Cup as a 19-year-old and has, among other things, Olympic and European Championship gold on the merit list.
As he's gotten older, he's learned to deal with the pressure that comes with success, but it was worse when he was younger.
- I had a period as a 14, 15, 16-year-old where I thought it was very difficult and I was very nervous in connection with competition.
There were also many times where I felt physically ill and threw up before competition at that age.
He has difficulty putting his finger on what thoughts were in his head when the performance anxiety was at its worst.
- I wouldn't say it was a concrete thought, it was just a feeling you and I had.
I was very good as a junior and you went around and competed and often won, and then you got tougher and tougher and maybe didn't win as many competitions and it was hard for me.
Cross-country skier Maja Dahlqvist also struggled with performance anxiety as a youngster.
- When I was even younger, junior and so on, it was almost like I "hope I get sick" because I was so nervous to even start because I was afraid of failure.
How did you deal with it then?
- I think I started and failed and realized there were no problems.
I think I've 'faced it' that way and had people around me that I've been able to talk to.
Both Dahlqvist and Samuelsson feel that they have a healthy relationship with sport and performance today.
For me, it's often that I get really pissed right away but then it's a bit out of the world an hour later.
It's a little up and down.
In some way, I want it to be like that, but it's when you feel bad about or are afraid of failure that you start to think about why you're doing what you're doing.
Sebbe:
Experienced?
When I was younger, I absolutely had it.
Today I would say that I, or since I started competing as a senior, I haven't had as much trouble, but today I think I handle the nervousness in a much better way.
Worst, crossed your mind?
I think it's very difficult to answer, because I wouldn't say it was a concrete thought, it was just a feeling you had and I think that.. I was very good as a junior and you went around competing and winning often, and then it got tougher and tougher and maybe didn't win as many races and it was hard for me.
How to get away from it?
For me, I think it was a bit of a maturity issue as well.
I got older and I read some books on mental training.
I'd like to say I grew out of it, but exactly what is what, I don't know.
But for me, over time that disappeared and I think that today I am very careful to distinguish between performance and person.
How is work today?
That particular thing has not been a big issue for me, but I think I handle the nervousness in a good way and today I have learned to use the nervousness for something positive, to get in focus and so on.
But then I work with a mental coach who I have talked to throughout my national team career.
Talk more about?
Yeah absolutely.
I think it's great that the topics are raised and I think that in sports, just like in other fields, there are people who struggle with things and it's not always so easy to see from the outside who is having a hard time.
So it is clear that it is an important part.
Elvira:
Experienced:
Performance anxiety is a fairly broad term.
You can have performance anxiety in everyday life, at school and on the ski slopes.
I've probably experienced more performance anxiety in, for example, school than I have on the ski track.
Because on the ski track I almost always feel very well prepared and I try to counteract the fact that I will get performance anxiety by knowing that I will do my best and then I can't do more, because I am well prepared and I just do my best , then I can't do more and it usually calms me down when I'm nervous before a competition.
Then I experienced it more at school.
I have been very ambitious there and wanted to do well
Maja: Suffered from?
Yes, both.
It is clear that you put a lot of pressure on yourself and you know what you can do.
But I've rarely felt really bad about it, but I think I had a pretty good balance about it.
Especially now in the last few years when I've gotten older, people have realized that I'm the only one who cares about my results.
It was more difficult for me when I was younger, but now looking at the last few years, I haven't had any problems like that, and have been pretty good at being off and on.
I think that is good and important for me, that there is not too much skiing.
Occasion steam affected?
I would say more when I was even younger, junior and stuff, then it was almost like I was “hoping I get sick” because I got so nervous to even start because I was afraid of failure.
How did then manage?
I think I booted and failed and realized there was no problem.
I think I have "faced" it that way and had people around me that I could say things to or talk to.
For me, it's often that I get really pissed right away but then it's a bit out of the world an hour later.
It's a little up and down.
In some way, I want it to be like that, but it's when you feel bad about or are afraid of failure that you start to think about why you're doing what you're doing.
More talk about?
Yes, I think so.
And I think, especially for younger skaters, that you take it almost a little too seriously.
It's not the whole world to fail, it's not the whole world.
Frida:
Experienced?
No, maybe not that way.
More like this.
A little Olympics then.
Where it just happens, you have such great will and drive and when you really want to perform at your fingertips.
Instead of it being full of pleasure, it becomes more demanding, you have felt that a little.
But then things always go badly for me, so I have to have this feeling now it's a bonus now it's a toss-up.
fun.'
Tool?
First of all, it's important to get to the bottom of why I'm doing this.
It is not vital in any way.
I do this because I want to and it has always started with a passion.
I love what I do and I am so very grateful that I can work with something I love, it is rare.
To really be able to see the competitions as the worst bonus of what you do all year.
I really enjoy the training I do during the year, but I also do it for this specific goal, which is the competitions.
So that it really becomes the bonus and not like this "now I've done all this work, now I have to".
After all, the error comes there because you have to, it's because you want to.
Talk more?
Yes, I think so.
And a bit like that, it's not life or death sport.
It's still entertainment for yourself, and for everyone else.
Sport is something that should be fun and not demanding.