Viivi Lehikoinen has said on Instagram that she suffered from overexertion caused by untreated asthma and chronic sleep deprivation.
A fencer Viivi Lehikonen the season that ended was full of disappointments. Lehikoinen’s condition collapsed especially during the Paris Olympics. Now more detailed information has been obtained about the background of Lehikoinen’s difficulties.
– The diagnosis was overexertion caused by untreated asthma and chronic sleep deprivation. Especially the lack of sleep was a surprise, because I have always been a good sleeper and slept 9-10 hours a night. This combination is, of course, deadly poison for an athlete. Asthma makes exercises harder and recovery slower, but at the same time poor quality sleep has slowed down recovery even more, says Lehikoinen.
So the situation is challenging, but Lehikoinen’s goal is to get back to top form.
– Of course, the situation is not easy, but I am satisfied that all the stones have now been turned to clarify the situation and it will be easier to build the future when the reasons are better understood. That is why I am very confident in the process, Lehikoinen writes.