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. 

“It was a long road back. The hardest part has probably been not being able to train and being without skiing, which has always been a big part of my identity. Going from being active to being unable to do anything when I didn’t feel sick.” 

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. 

“I get different advice from different doctors. My case is very special. It’s rare to have a cardiac arrest at my age, and it’s rare not to find the cause. Some doctors say I can never train again, while others say I can train if I do a test beforehand.” 

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!”

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. 

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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 

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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.

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