Q: Can you share some details about your initiative to Elevate Norwegian Women’s Swimming?
A: As part of a drive to uplift Norwegian swimming, we sat down for a conversation with an athlete dedicated to creating development opportunities for female swimmers in Norway.
This initiative aims to enhance women’s swimming in Norway and foster an environment for further development. At the Olympics in Paris, three swimmers represented Norway, all of whom were men. Our goal is to cultivate a culture of mutual support to help each other reach the next level. I organized our first gathering in August this year, which was a great success. We had 25 of the top female swimmers in Norway in attendance. You can see some positive feedback from the event here: Instagram Link. I hope to organize a gathering every six months to a year.
Q: What does your training routine look like?
A: I train at Ado Arena, and I take Sundays off unless we’re at a training camp or competition. My training schedule consists of around 12 sessions a week, focusing primarily on swimming, but I also incorporate strength training and yoga. I wake up at 5:20 AM each day to get started.
Q: Since SwimEye started sponsoring you last fall, what events have you participated in?
A: I’ve competed in two major international competitions: the Rotterdam qualification meet and the Mare Nostrum Swimtour. This year, I’ve spent five weeks training in Spain to prepare. I’m currently working towards qualifying for the U23 European Championships this summer, where I hope to perform well.
Q: How have your results been this year?
A: So far this year, we have only held one of the two national championships. We have one competition for long-distance swimming and another for short distance. During the championship in the summer, I faced some health-related challenges and didn’t perform as well as I had hoped, but I did manage to secure three silver medals individually. I’m optimistic that my performances will improve at the national championships in November.
This initiative and the athlete’s commitment highlight the growing focus on women’s swimming in Norway, aiming to nurture talent and achieve greater representation in the sport.