Lina Nielsen: Defying MS to Chase Olympic Dreams | Ep.21

Lina is a 400m hurdler for Great Britain. She was recently a member of the bronze winning relay team in the world indoor championships in Glasgow alongside her sister, and is about to compete in a series of qualifiers to reach this summer's Olympic Games in Paris.

But there is a unique addition to Lina’s story that shone a light on her career in 2022. At the world championships in Oregon, she announced he has been living with multiple sclerosis since she was 17. Multiple sclerosis is a lifelong condition that affects the brain and nerves. Symptoms include double vision, muscle weakness and loss of sensation and coordination. The condition affects everyone in different ways.

The fact she pushed through a relapse (when someone with MS experiences a flare up of symptoms) to participate in Oregon is an amazing story in itself. To be one step away from competing in the Olympics is another.

For many reasons this is a special interview, and a unique spin on ‘The Business of Sport’. MS is something that has impacted mine and Harry’s life. Our mother was diagnosed with the illness 15 years ago. It is something we are hugely passionate about supporting and spreading the word on, so it is a real pleasure to welcome Lina Nielsen to the show.
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Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro
(01:00) The Day in The Life of a Professional Athlete
(03:20) Understanding Olympic Qualification & Future Events
(06:49) Athlete Support for Olympic & World Qualification
(09:37) Media, Pressure, & Performance
(14:19) Recapping the Oregon World Championships 2022
(22:30) Public Perception Post-Diagnosis Reveal
(30:04) A Shift in Career After the Events
(34:48) Data, Medication, and Anti-Doping Compliance
(40:27) Quick-Fire Round
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We discuss:

1. Elite competition:
What does the day in the life of an elite athlete look like? What are the priorities and key focuses essential to high performance?
Qualifying for an Olympics: what does the road to Paris involve and how much competition is there for places on the team?
Small margins are the difference between success and failure. New qualifying times have made it harder than ever to make it.
Financing a career in the sport. Funding is hard to come by; the importance of brand partnerships to ensure you can commit to a full time career

2. MS diagnosis and Athletics:
announcing to the world that Lina had MS was not an easy decision. Why did she decide the 2022 World Championships was the time to tell her story?
How does multiple sclerosis impact the body and what challenges does it present to someone trying to make it in professional sport.
The mental hurdles to overcome once the news was out in the open. Why did Lina fear critique and backlash from the community because of her achievements?
When you have a story you have a new profile. How to deal with a new attention from the public and fellow athletes while still focusing on your performance.

3. Role of the Athlete:
There is social responsibility that extends beyond performance in today’s society. Athletes have the ability to influence and inspire.
The role social media can play in reaching fans, giving them access to your story, and bringing them into your world offers endless opportunity.
How being a figurehead or leader for something can be intimidating, but at the same time it can empower you with the support of an entire community.
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