Olympian Endures ‘Unbearable’ Pain from ‘Frozen Penis’ for the Second Time
Olympic skier Remi Lindholm faced excruciating pain when he encountered a “frozen penis” for the second time. The Finnish athlete took part in the Men’s 50km Cross-Country Skiing event at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, which had to be shortened to 30km due to severe winds. Lindholm, 27, struggled in the harsh conditions and post-race revealed the ordeal he went through. Despite finishing 28th in a race won by Russian athlete Alexander Bolshunov, Lindholm’s focus was on the discomfort he endured during the competition. Known as one of the most physically demanding winter events, cross-country skiing can burn over 1,000 calories per hour. Lindholm spent nearly an hour and 16 minutes on the course in freezing temperatures of -17C, battling not just the competition but the extreme cold.
After the race, Lindholm openly shared his experience with the press, stating, “You can probably guess what was on the ice when I got to the finish line. It was one of the worst competitions I’ve been in. It was just about battling through. When the body parts started to warm up after the finish, the pain was unbearable.” To alleviate his discomfort, Lindholm was provided with a heat bag to apply to the affected area in a bid to thaw out his genitalia. This unfortunate incident marked the second time the skier had encountered this issue, having previously faced the same agony during the Ruka World Cup the year before. Describing the severity of the situation, Lindholm confessed, “It was [worse this time]. Pretty unbearable pain.”
Instances of “frozen penis” are not uncommon in winter sports, with Swedish skier Calle Halfvarsson experiencing a similar plight during the 20km World Cup event in Ruka. Halfvarsson expressed concerns about his ability to father children in the future if the situation were to recur. “I have frozen my penis,” he revealed to Swedish publication Expressen. “For real. Damn, I had to lie in there [warm-up tent] for 10 minutes to warm it up. It hurts so damn much. It’s terrible. It’s lucky that I’m going to have my second child because this is going to be difficult in the future if I’m going to continue like this.” With the 2026 Winter Olympics scheduled to take place in Italy in less than a year, it remains uncertain whether Lindholm, who recently secured a second-place finish in the Finlandia Ski Marathon Freestyle, will participate in the upcoming games. In contrast, Halfvarsson has set his sights on competing in the Olympics before retiring in 2027 at the World Championships.
The physical toll and challenges faced by athletes in demanding winter sports like cross-country skiing are immense, as highlighted by Lindholm and Halfvarsson’s experiences. The extreme weather conditions, coupled with the intense physical exertion required, can push athletes to their limits and pose unexpected health risks. Despite the glamour and prestige of competing at the highest level in events like the Winter Olympics, behind the scenes, athletes like Lindholm and Halfvarsson grapple with the harsh realities of their sport. As preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics gather pace, the stories of resilience and perseverance exhibited by these athletes serve as a reminder of the sacrifices and struggles that often go unnoticed in the quest for sporting excellence.
In conclusion, the tales of Lindholm and Halfvarsson shed light on the lesser-known challenges faced by athletes in winter sports, bringing to the forefront the physical and mental resilience required to compete at the elite level. With the specter of “frozen penis” haunting these athletes, their candid accounts offer a glimpse into the harsh realities that accompany the pursuit of sporting glory. As the sporting world looks ahead to the next Winter Olympics, the journeys of Lindholm, Halfvarsson, and others serve as a testament to the dedication and sacrifices made by athletes in their quest for excellence.