Dr. Uwe Verangen discussed the prevalence of asthma among athletes on Norway’s national cross country ski team and the use of medication to manage the condition.
He noted that on the Norwegian team competing at World Cup events, roughly half to a little more than two thirds of the athletes have been diagnosed with asthma and are treated with medication. This share has remained stable over several years, suggesting a persistent pattern within this elite group.
Asthma in the general population of a region or among children represents a different form of airway issue than the breathing challenges seen in high-level endurance athletes. Long periods of intense training and the strain placed on the respiratory system can lead to a condition that functions differently from everyday asthma. In discussions with VG, the Norwegian physician emphasized that the term asthma encompasses several distinct types, each with its own causes, symptoms, and treatment approaches.
As the sport calendar turns, the 2023 World Championships in cross country skiing were scheduled to take place from February 22 to March 5 in Planica, Slovenia. The event gathers athletes from many nations to push the boundaries of endurance and technique in high altitude, cold climate conditions, which can interact with respiratory health for some competitors.
During the 2023 championships, a notable incident occurred when Finnish skier Evelyina Piippo fainted during the women’s relay race, an event that underscored the demanding nature of elite competition and the attention given to athlete well being and safety during major meets. This episode was reported in connection with ongoing discussions about the health monitoring and medical support available to athletes at the highest levels of the sport, and it highlights the broader conversation about how asthma and other respiratory conditions are managed among elite skiers across nations.