CHRISTENSEN Simone

General
INJURY SETBACKS
In June 2021 it was confirmed that she would compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo despite having battled injuries in the past two years. "In Tokyo I have to be in the best possible shape in relation to the cards that I have been dealt. But I have no idea where I stand in relation to the competitors, as I have not raced against them for a very long time. If you have to look at it positively, then my body has at least calmed down. But I do not want to hide that it has been a tough period. I have broken many bones in my life, I think 15 or 16, but this period has been extra challenging." She says she has worked with a sports psychologist who helped her develop an optimistic attitude toward the Olympic Games. "Let's see how long it lasts." (sn.dk, 09 Jun 2021)

TRAINING IN SWITZERLAND
In 2018 she accepted the chance to train at the International Cycling Union [UCI] World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland. Her plan was to train there up until the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, but when the Games were postponed for a year she moved back to Copenhagen, Denmark. "I've been so grateful to get the opportunity to be part of the World Cycling Centre, it really was a dream come true. I spent a long time trying to decide what will be best towards the Olympics, and also the season. I ended up deciding that it'd be better off to be in Copenhagen and basically being able to be a bit more than just to be an athlete." (tokyo2020.org, 23 Sep 2020; Instagram profile, 07 Aug 2020)

STUDY PLANS
She has studied medicine in Aarhus, Denmark and plans to become a surgeon. "I dream of becoming a surgeon. But I want to be a good surgeon, just like I set the bar high when I'm on my BMX. Right now [2021] I have put the studies on hold due to the Olympics [2020 Games in Tokyo], but I definitely need to go back and study after the summer holidays." (ol2020.dif.dk, 31 Mar 2021)