The world of winter sports is not for the faint of heart, especially when it comes to endurance events like cross-country skiing. Finnish skier Remi Lindholm, who competed in the 2022 Winter Olympics, has had his fair share of struggles with the harsh conditions, including a rather unusual and painful issue – frostbite on his penis. This is not an isolated incident for Lindholm, who has experienced this discomfort on more than one occasion throughout his career. The most recent episode occurred during the 50-kilometer event at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where temperatures plummeted to -17°C and strong winds made conditions even more challenging. The event, which was reduced to 30 kilometers due to the extreme weather, saw Lindholm push through the pain to finish 28th, despite the unbearable discomfort he endured after the race.
“It was all about fighting through. When the parts of my body started to warm up after finishing, the pain was excruciating,” Lindholm recalled, offering a glimpse into the harsh realities of competing in such extreme conditions. The 50-kilometer cross-country skiing event is renowned as one of the most physically demanding in the Winter Olympics, with athletes burning up to 1,000 calories per hour. The event at the Beijing Olympics was won by Russian athlete Alexander Bolshunov.
Lindholm’s experience, however, is not unique. Fellow skier Calle Halfvarsson from Sweden also suffered a similar fate during a World Cup event in Ruka. Halfvarsson’s account of lying down in his tent for 10 minutes to warm up after the race paints a vivid picture of the agony these athletes face. “My penis got frozen. Honestly, I had to lie down in the tent for 10 minutes to warm it up. It hurts a lot. It’s terrible,” Halfvarsson shared, adding a touch of pragmatism to his future plans, considering the implications of such injuries on his personal life, including the upcoming birth of his second child.
Despite these challenges, both Lindholm and Halfvarsson remain committed to their sport. While Lindholm is uncertain about his participation in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italy, Halfvarsson has confirmed his intention to compete and is also looking forward to the 2027 World Championships before considering retirement.
However, medical professionals have raised questions about the accuracy of the descriptions provided by the skiers. According to urologists, the condition described is unlikely due to the physiological response of the body to cold temperatures. “It’s very difficult for this to happen because the penis contracts a lot in the cold,” explained Dr. Teuvo Tammela. He suggested that what the skiers might have experienced could be related to prostatitis, an inflammation of the prostate that can cause pain in the penis, especially in sensitive individuals. This condition can last for weeks and is consistent with the symptoms described by the athletes, including a numbness in the lower abdomen and potential difficulty urinating.
The experience of these athletes highlights the extreme physical demands of cross-country skiing and the unforeseen challenges competitors face, especially in harsh weather conditions. As the sporting world looks towards future events, including the 2026 Winter Olympics, the stories of Remi Lindholm, Calle Halfvarsson, and others serve as a testament to the resilience and dedication of athletes who brave the elements to excel in their sport. Whether the exact nature of their discomfort is medically termed as frostbite or another condition, the enduring message is one of perseverance and the unrelenting passion for their craft, even in the face of adversity.