Do you remember Simon Jonsson, who collapsed after the “Birken” and then suffered a cardiac arrest for 12 minutes? Now he’s training again with his Ski Team Göhlins. Life moves on, but Simon is uncertain whether he will ever race again.
The incident in Lillehammer on March 25, 2024, was very dramatic. After Birkebeinerrennet, Simon collapsed, and his heart stopped for 12 minutes. He was rushed to the hospital in Lillehammer and then flown by helicopter to Oslo, where he was in a coma for 24 hours.
“Approximately 10 percent survive an event like this outside a hospital in Sweden. I’m very grateful that I was there and that I survived.”
Simon doesn’t remember anything from the day it happened. His teammates have told him that he felt unwell during the race. Suddenly, he lost many positions and complained about neck pain.
“After crossing the finish line, I felt nauseous and unwell. But I don’t remember it; I’ve only been told about it afterward,” says Simon today.
Don’t Know Why
The cause of the cardiac arrest has still not been found, despite many tests and regular check-ups afterward. Oddly enough, Simon Jonsson works with hearts, ECGs, and similar matters in his everyday life, so he is very familiar with what happened to him.
The skier from Ski Team Göhlins shares that he was able to do normal things soon after the incident, but he was not allowed to train at all for the first three months.
“I wasn’t scared; I don’t really know why. But I have a defibrillator implanted in my chest. It can give electric shocks if I need it, and that gives me a certain peace of mind.”
Doctors Disagree on Training
Afterward, Simon had no direct symptoms except occasional extra heartbeats. But according to him, that’s quite common. He’s resumed training but is being cautious.
4-hour Sessions
When we joined Ski Team Göhlins on a training camp in Mallorca, Simon did 4-hour roller ski sessions with the team.
“It’s strange that I can train for 4 hours but can’t do the hardest sessions. I train much more now than after the incident, but I don’t push myself to the same level as before. I’m also very careful with recovery.”
“I feel good when I train; stopping training is like stopping life!”
The story continues below.
Will He Compete Again?
Of course, thoughts of racing again cross Simon’s mind, even though Simon – the man behind the idea of forming Ski Team Göhlins – has now taken on the role of Pro Team Director.
“I’ve thought a lot about racing again but also tried not to think about it. It’s very tough to be a top skier. For me, it’s about two things: one, whether I’m willing to take the risk, and the other, whether I have the mental strength. Even though everything is fine, I know what happened. That makes it tough to push hard. I train because it’s fun, and I like it.”
Simon Jonsson is calm and reflective, even after being “dead” for 12 minutes in March.
“I see life differently now. I’m grateful for everyone around me who helped me on the way back; I’ve also been able to help others who were in the same situation. Life moves on for everyone, and everyone has their ups and downs. I’m still a happy guy. Many in the world have it much worse than me.”
On Friday, November 22, at 12:00 CET, the first episode of Ski Classics Ski or Die Season II will be released. The first featured Pro Team is Sweden’s Ski Team Göhlins.
Ski Classics Ski or Die is exclusive to members of ProXCskiing.com. Membership gives you access to the streaming service SC Play, where you can watch this new documentary and live-streamed events like the entire Ski Classics Pro Tour season and other ski competitions.
Not a member yet? JOIN HERE
By becoming a member of ProXCskiing.com, you’ll join the world’s leading skiing community, with exclusive benefits and unlimited access to articles on Langd.se, Langrenn.com, Maastohiihto.com, ProXCSkiing.com, Bezky.net, SC Play, and SC MyPages.
Also Read: Ski Team Göhlins – Pro Team presentation Season XVI
About Ski Classics Ski or Die
Ski Classics Ski or Die is a tribute to the incredible dedication of Ski Classics Pro Team athletes, as they tackle challenging terrain, traverse stunning landscapes, and take on the most challenging obstacles in training and competition. The series offers a behind-the-scenes look at skiing, not just as a sport but as a way of life. This documentary adventure will inspire, captivate, and give viewers a deeper understanding of long-distance skiing.
Ski Classics Ski or Die Release Dates
November 22, 12:00 CET – Episode 1: Ski Team Göhlins
November 29, 12:00 CET – Episode 2: Team Robinson Trentino
December 6, 12:00 CET – Episode 3: Team Eksjöhus
The story continues below.
In the debut season, we followed Team Ragde Charge from Norway, the Vltava Fund Ski Team from the Czech Republic, and the Lager 157 Ski Team from Sweden. Get ready for the new season by catching up on last season’s episodes HERE.
Are you interested in Ski Classics and long-distance skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.
Top Photo: Magnus Östh/Ski Classics
