Anni Lindroos had not slept for days, suffered from depression and burnout.
You wouldn’t believe right away what kind of problems the Finnish skier who broke into the World Cup last early season had Anni Lindroos experienced his star moments on vacation.
There were weeks when Lindroos slept only a few hours in total.
– There were many nights when I didn’t sleep at all, Lindroos says.
The disgusting nightmares started in the fall of 2022.
– I trained quite hard and then my sleep is usually weaker. Then I just couldn’t get on with it, I got stuck in a little sleep.
The athlete was not startled by sleep problems, as he achieved the best results of his career in December 2022, when the World Cup came in 29th, 41st and 43rd.
– I thought I was immortal. I thought I didn’t need sleep when things were going this well.
Collapse
Anni Lindroos has suffered from sleep problems for a year and a half. Jussi Saarinen
In February 2023, the truth hit me in the face. Little-slept Lindroos yearned for success at the U23 World Championships in Canada, but was ranked 41st in the free ten.
– It was really, really difficult. When you don’t sleep, your body doesn’t work normally.
The feisty woman persevered until the end of the 2022–23 season and was still wearing a number tag on her chest in the Inari SC skiing held at the turn of April.
Then came the collapse.
– It affected my whole life, when I wasn’t well physically or mentally. In the spring of 2023, I was completely exhausted. Burnout and depression came, and I still didn’t sleep.
The summer of 2023 was spent in pain with illnesses.
– I can’t really think about the whole period because it was so difficult.
Help
Anni Lindroos was in 37th place on Saturday in the Finnish Cup in Kuopio. Jussi Saarinen
Last fall, Lindroos’ health improved.
– I got a sleeping pill from the doctor. It helped and I started to sleep.
After a gap year, he returned to studying health sciences at Åbo Akademi in Vaasa.
– In the 2022–23 season, it was even more difficult when skiing went really badly, and there was nothing else.
In the Vuokatti Finnish Cup in the free sprint in November 2023, the woman was ninth. Then the corona struck.
– January 2024 was good and I thought that I am finally going in a better direction. At the end of February, I got sick with the flu. With that, I’ve suffered from sleep problems again.
The respiratory disease has been brought under control, but the sleep problems have continued. Last week, for example, Lindroos had to miss the national competition.
– Eight hours would be the optimal sleep time per night, says Lindroos.
– I am involved in the sleep program, but it is still in the early stages. Sleeping pills are not the right solution, it is only first aid, he adds.
Pargas IF
THE FACTS
Kuopio Suomen cup, women’s 12 km (year):
1. Krista Pärmäkoski, Ikaalist Athletes 28.55,7
2. Vilma Nissinen, Vuokatti Ski Team Kainuu +2.04,5
3. Jasmin Kähärä, Vuokatti Ski Team Kainuu +2.11,4
4. Katri Lylynperä, Vuokatti Ski Team Kainuu +2.32,6
5. Josefiina Böök, Jämin Jänne +2.34,2
6. Vilma Ryytty, Iisalmen Visa +2.41,7
7. Anna-Kaisa Saari, Ylivieskan Kuula +2.49,3
8. Emma Hämäläinen, Lahti Ski Club +2.52,0
9. Rebecca Immonen, Vantaa Ski Club +2.56,3
10. Tiia Olkkonen, Haapajärvi Kiilat +2.58,4
Lindroos, 22, grew up in Parain in Northern Finland. He moved to Vöyr, north of Vaasa, when he started a Swedish-language sports high school there.
– Parai had very good skiing conditions when I was a child, but of course Vöyri has much better ones. It seems that winters are getting worse in Paris. If you didn’t store snow there, you wouldn’t ski there. The Parais have really good club activities and volunteer work, says the Pargas IF athlete.
Lindroos is coached by an impressive former national team skier in Vöyri Matias Strandvall.
– I still have strong goals in competitive skiing, but I don’t know how long the worse period will last. Now I should be calm so that my sleep problems can be solved and I can sleep.
On Saturday, Lindroos was 37th in the Kuopio Suomen Cup freestyle 12 km intermediate start race. He lost just under six minutes to the winner Krista Pärmäkoski.
– Really bad. The whole season has been really difficult, says Lindroos.
– But I feel much better now than last summer, he reminds.
What do you want to say to those who suffer from the same health problems as you?
– Take care of your own health. If there is a small problem, you have to do something about it right away, and not think that it will go away right away, Lindroos answers.
– I should have taken action as soon as the sleep problems started. But I thought, when I’m in the World Cup, there’s no problem, he adds.