Eugene. Axelina Johansson’s kick racket, 22, is ready to make his World Cup debut.
But just three years ago, his career could have ended.
I’ve had major problems with performance anxiety, she says.
Fannie Ross has always held throwing twigs on the women’s side. But during the World Cup in Eugene, a new generation presents itself in the world championships. Great Ahlberg made her hammer debut and in the ball ring she joined another Småland girl Rose in Axelina Johansson of Hagafors outside the Fagrid.
Johansson has made great strides in the past two seasons. Her most recent personal record of 18.39 was for her to finish second across the ages behind Roos and the new level was also enough for a bronze disc at the US Universiade as she competes for Nebraska.
Development depends on intense training and discipline. I train a lot and always do my best in every exercise, she says when she has to explain the lift.
But behind the move, there is also a completely different mental attitude towards the sport, she says.
“Talk to several psychologists”
When I was younger, I had a lot of problems with performance anxiety and felt that people expected me to perform well. I was told what my talent was and that I would go a long way. It put so much pressure on me that I couldn’t meet those expectations, she says and continues:
– But I talked to many different sports psychologists and got help. Now I don’t feel pressured I do it for me. It’s fun to hit the bullet again.
The desire to perform well on the pitch can create a negative spiral.
– You’re doing it poorly because you feel pressured to step away. Then you strain and the worst thing you can do in a ball is tighten. You must be able to relax.
After the 2018 season, she was about to retire.
– Yes, it was already so. Had I not seen any improvement in 2019, I might have stopped, but now I’m so glad I made my way through it.
“Fuck what everyone thinks”
It’s relatively common in individual sports to suffer from this type of performance anxiety, so what’s your advice to others out there now?
– I would say that no one cares how much you pay or what you do. People will love you anyway, do it because you think it’s fun.
It may seem like a paradox when you think no one cares what you do, but is this a winning concept?
– HHHH Yes. I’ve really learned that there are many people who have different opinions about how to train and do it, but in the end it is me and my coach who decides. Axelina Johansson says I ignore what other people think.