Anders Olsson is in many ways one of Sweden’s most impressive athletes. A multiple world record holder and Paralympic gold medalist, who staked through several races of Vasaloppet, swimming all of Klarälven in 12 days and additionally crushed the competition on the route Alcatraz – San Francisco in 13-degree water. Now, “the Iron Man from Hagfors”, is ready for his toughest competition so far – Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet.
The nickname “the Iron Man” is no exaggeration. In the middle of the 90th century, Anders experienced a series of unfortunate circumstances while being hospitalized, experiences that made him paralyzed from the waist down. He was bedridden for five years and fought severe pain with morphine and medicines. The turning point came in 2002, when a friend challenged him to participate in Vansbrosimningen. He accepted the challenge and has since then fought hard. Today, he masters his pain through persistent training. Training that also led to enormous successes in three Olympics and several World- and National Championships. His specialty in endurance swimming has over the years been joined by triathlon and skiing, and in 2005 he raced Vasaloppet for the first time – completing ninety kilometers on a sitski. On April 10 2016, it is time for the challenge that tops everything he has previously done – Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet;
– One of my goals is to qualify for the Ironman Hawaii, but the question is whether Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet is slightly tougher. This will no doubt be the toughest race so far for me. It can be difficult for someone who has never tried a sitski to understand how hard it actually is. After each race in Vasaloppet, I have said ’never again’, but now I’m standing here, ready to take on 220 kilometers.
Birthday present
Signing up to Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet is thanks to his son Andreas, who gave him a spot in the race for his 50th birthday. As a thank you, Anders signed up his son for the same race. However, there won’t be a family battle;
– No, he will have his own race and I will have mine. I will be accompanied by another skier who will help me carry additional poles and other stuff that may be needed. However, I have not found that person yet, so if anyone has the desire to help, just get in touch.
Don’t overthink it
When we reach Anders, he is working hard on adapting the sitski for the race. Since the knees are under a lot of pressure, he wants to distribute the weight more evenly. Something else that needs to be tiptop before the race are the skis;
– My biggest problems are usually glide and to make the carriage work good on the track. It weighs quite a lot so I need good skis that can take the pressure. But I’ve got some tips from Daniel Tynell and Salomon is going to see what they can offer, so I hope for some good stuff.
His best tip for those who might go on their first long-distance race, still deciding to participate or just need some advice before the challenge, is to not think too much;
– The key is not to think about anything at all during the race itself, but to accept the fact that it will take a long time and also hurt. If you’re thinking ”can’t this be over now”, you’re screwed. It’s a mental battle where you have to set goals along the race, and make the distance bit by bit. And to continually replenish with food and drinks that you know that your stomach is able to handle.
Long races as warm up
Anders means that trying to get in shape just for the race won’t do it, it must be there from the beginning. It also helps to have put some real long races behind you before standing on the starting line. Anders plan is to warm up by racing both the Open Track, as well as Kort- and Stafettvasan, in addition to the usual training dose of about 20 hours per week.
– Much depends on the weather, but my goal is to finish the Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet in the same time as they did 132 years ago (21 hours and 22 minutes). I’m well aware of the tough challenge and that I will have extremely tired arms afterwards.
