Five years after the end of his biathlon career, Fredrik Lindström has swapped his biathlon suit for a doctor's coat. The family father has found a new job, but one that still links him to competitive sport.

Fredrik Lindström has particularly fond memories of his last season which ended in March 2019 after the home World Championships in Oestersund. After winning the 2018 Olympic relay title in Pyeongchang, the title fights in Sweden were the last major goal of his sporting career. But the road to the Oestersund ski stadium was a rocky one.

Fredrik Lindström fell ill with mononucleosis at the start of the 2018/19 season and needed a long time to recover from his illness. “My last season didn't go at all as I had imagined. After twelve years in the national team, I put everything into training in summer to be in top shape for the home World Cup. My body couldn't cope with that,” explains Lindström. One competition in Pokljuka at the start of the season - that that’s all his body managed.

But he fought to end his career at home at the World Championships. “When I look back, it was perhaps my greatest success that I was on the start line in Oestersund for the World Championships.” He was able to say goodbye to his home fans in the sprint and relay. He then ran his very last biathlon race in the sprint at Holmenkollen in Oslo.

Back to the classroom

After the sport, Fredrik Lindström focused on his family. “It was increasingly difficult to leave my wife and two daughters at home and travel to competitions. That's why I enjoyed the intensive time with them all the more after my career ended,” says the 35-year-old.

After ten months at home, Fredrik Lindström then embarked on a new challenge that took him back to school. At medical school, to start study to become a doctor. Four years later, he only needs one more year to graduate. “Being a doctor is a really impressive job. But at first it wasn't easy for me to be back in class. After all, my school days were over 15 years ago,” explains Lindström.

Sitting in the classroom for long periods, reading books and studying extremely hard before exams - that wasn't easy for the former athlete. During his studies, he has exams every six months for which he has to prepare. More often than not, he used the time on the train on the way to university to cram the material. “I think my time as a competitive athlete helped me a lot mentally to get through these stressful phases. I learned to focus and work efficiently.”

Balancing job and family

This summer, Fredrik Lindström is working in orthopaedics at the hospital. He does not yet know whether he will specialize in it, but he can well imagine doing so. “A lot of sports injuries are treated in orthopaedics. I know my way around there, it's an exciting field. But I can also see myself working as a GP.”

Although his studies and work at the hospital demand a lot from Fredrik Lindström, he is happy to be at home with his family every evening. Together they go out into nature and do sports. He has managed to get his eldest daughter interested in biathlon. She trains at the local ski club. And even as a doctor, he is reminded of his biathlon career from time to time. “Sometimes my patients recognize me. I've had the odd funny conversation,” says Lindström with a smile.

Photos: IBU, private