Finnish Cross-Country Ski Star Krista Pärmäkoski Reveals Difficult Times: "Life Was a Hell"
Originally published in SVT Sport on October 10, 2024
Finnish cross-country skiing star Krista Pärmäkoski opens up about her difficult times, stating: "Life was a hell." In March, she won her first World Cup race in six years, but she reveals that this achievement came during a major life crisis.
In her autobiography, she describes suffering from panic attacks and being on antidepressants, while also undergoing therapy. Pärmäkoski faced the sudden death of her dog around the same time her marriage was falling apart.
The worst period was the week after the Tour de Ski, where she contemplated how much medication she could take to cope. Yet despite her struggles, she felt a strong desire to continue competing, and the successful end to her season motivated her to aim for the upcoming Olympics in Italy in 2026.
