Finnish Skier's Frozen Penis Ordeal at Winter Olympics
Finnish cross-country skier Remi Lindholm has revealed the unbearable agony he suffered after his penis froze during the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. The 28-year-old athlete competed in the Men's 50km Cross-Country Skiing event, which was shortened to 30km due to brutal winds, but the harsh conditions still took a severe physical toll.
Extreme Cold Causes Unprecedented Pain
Lindholm spent one hour and 16 minutes racing in freezing temperatures of -17 degrees Celsius, battling not just competitors but also the extreme cold. After crossing the finish line in 28th place, behind Russian winner Alexander Bolshunov, he disclosed that his penis had frozen during the race, causing excruciating pain as it thawed.
"You can probably guess what was on the ice when I got to the finish line," Lindholm stated. "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."
Medical Intervention and Previous Incidents
Medical staff provided Lindholm with a heat pack to apply to his penis to defrost it, highlighting the seriousness of the injury. Astonishingly, this was not the first time he had experienced this condition. The Finnish skier had suffered similar excruciating pain during the Ruka World Cup in his home country the previous year, though he noted the Olympic incident was worse.
Lindholm is not alone in this plight. Swedish skier Calle Halfvarsson also experienced a frozen penis during the 20km World Cup event in Ruka, expressing concerns about his fertility afterwards. "I have frozen my penis. For real. Damn, I had to lie in there for 10 minutes to warm it up. It hurts so damn much," Halfvarsson told Swedish publication Expressen.
Recovery and Continued Career
Despite these agonising incidents, Lindholm made a strong recovery. Less than a year after the Olympic mishap, he claimed gold in the 15km freestyle skiing championship in Tampere, beating 169 skiers. He also secured second place in the Finlandia Ski Marathon in early 2025.
Lindholm continues to participate in World Cup and Scandinavian Cup races, braving the elements. However, he has not been selected by Team Finland for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, a decision that might spare him further such injuries.
Cross-country skiing is recognised as one of the most gruelling winter sports, with elite athletes burning over 1,000 calories per hour. Lindholm's experiences underscore the extreme physical demands and risks athletes face in these conditions, beyond typical performance challenges.
