Madelen Janogy broke through with a dream goal in the 2019 FIFA World Cup that took her from Piteå to German Wolfsburg.
But last year, the national team striker broke his contract with the German big club and moved home to Sweden, and openly told about a tough time with sleep problems and mental illness.
Since last spring she plays in Hammarby and in April she made a comeback in the national team.
– I’m fine now, Madelen Janogy has previously told DN.
– But then it is of course a journey to make.
On Tuesday started the striker for the first time in an Olympic match – and scored a goal – when an already quarter-final-ready Sweden secured the group victory in their group via 2-0 against New Zealand.
– We have an incredible team, says Janogy and adds about the offensive competition in the Olympic team:
– For me, it’s about working hard and always doing everything really well.
Just a couple of hours before Janogy’s goal, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist in mountain biking, Jenny Rissveds, had cycled her race in a hot Izu outside Tokyo.
Rissveds finished it this time in 14th place, but was back on the Olympic stage after years of eating disorders and depression.
After the race, Rissveds said that she wants to continue to raise issues about mental illness, to help others in the same situation.
Talking about mental challenges in sports is no longer taboo.
– The more we talk about it and the more people who open up, the greater the understanding, Rissveds said earlier this week.
Madelen Janogy agrees:
– Yes, we are going in the right direction, I would say. Then there are still things to work with.
What does it mean for athletes like you and Jenny Rissveds to talk about what you are struggling with mentally?
– I think it means a lot. It shows that “I can, she can”, says Janogy.
When you felt bad, could you take support from other people’s stories or other athletes?
– I actually did not think so much like that then, but there was a lot of focus on myself. But once I had decided (to break the foreign contract) there was no question of not going out with it.
Read more:
The reserve team secured the group victory
Relieved Rissveds never close medal: “Looking forward to just being called Jenny”
Johan Esk: What Jenny Rissveds has done is bigger than all Olympic gold
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