The determined Åsa Lundström
Swedish triathlete Åsa Lundström resides in Denmark where she studies medicine. She won Ironman Sweden in 2012, grabbed a win at the 2013 Danish Sprint Championships and more recently finished second to Virginia Berasategui at the Bilbao Triathlon, but that result may be changed. Berasategui tested positive at that event and if the B sample comes back positive too, Lundström will be the champion. We had a few words with her about that situation, doping and cheating in general, juggling studying medicine, training and racing, and much more.
Slowtwitch: Thank you for your time.
Åsa Lundström: The pleasure is all mine!
ST: Congrats on that Danish title.
Åsa: Thank you very much!
ST: Is everything well with you?
Åsa: Everything is very well, thank you. I am in the last training period up to the first Ironman for the season, and also in the last studying period in med school before summer holiday, so I am busy – but I like it.
ST: You have time to train and race while in medical school? Wow.
Åsa: Yeah, well it takes a lot of planning, structure and dedication. But I enjoy both of it, so it works out fine.
ST: What kind of medical path are you on?
Åsa: Naturally, I want to work with something related to sport, either sports injuries or in the anti-doping organization, working with improving methods to prevent doping.
ST: How has your season been so far, other than the Danish Sprint title?
Åsa: The season didn’t start very well, where I had to pull out due to mechanical problems in my first race, Challenge Fuerteventura. My second race was Bilbao Triathlon, where I got food poisoned the night before the race, but managed to complete the race in second place. Though, the first female was tested positive in the doping test, and now we are waiting for the B sample to see if that one will come out positive, too. And then Danish sprint champion, so I hope the up going trend will continue.
ST: Have the race organizers from Bilbao contacted you?
Åsa: No, I haven't heard anything from them since the race, yet. But I look forward to hear from them sometime soon…
ST: What is actually the procedure in that case in terms of being declared the actual winner?
Åsa: I guess that should be official from the race organization after the results from the doping tests, so we’ll see what happens after the result of the B-sample.
ST: Had you all gotten the prize money already from the race?
Åsa: No, not yet.
ST: When and how did you find out about the Virginia Bersategui positive news from Bilbao?
Åsa: Just a few hours after El mundo published the news about it, I got a text from my head sponsor Orbea Orca. They are situated in Bilbao, so they notified me as soon as they found out about it.
ST: You finished second to her in that Bilbao race. Where you tested there too?
Åsa: Yes, I was. I was happy to see that top 3 male and female were all tested in Bilbao.
ST: Do you feel cheated out of the win?
Åsa: If she ends up being convicted, I do. Not in terms that I would have been more proud over my performance if I had won. But a win will always be a win, and a great and memorable experience. If she cheated, that would mean she also cheated me on that experience.
ST: Do you think the B sample will come back with different results?
Åsa: Taking in consideration that she has a history of positive doping test, I find it quite hard to believe that A-sample test is a false positive. But for the sport, I really hope that I am wrong.
ST: Do you think enough is done in terms of testing?
Åsa: I think more could be done. I wish top 3 male and female would be tested in all races. In bigger races, top 10 should all give urine sample, but only few are randomly tested. That wouldn’t mean so much more expanses than the way it is now, but anyone in top10 could be tested. I also think more tests could be done in big races among age groupers.
ST: Are the penalties for doping offenses tough enough?
Åsa: I don’t know how prevalent accidental doping is, but for all intentional doping, I think the golden standard should be a lifetime ban. Cheaters don’t belong in sports.
ST: What about penalties for drafting etc?
Åsa: Yes and no. I don’t think the length of time of the penalty is a problem, but the differences between judgments done by the race marshals in races, and between different races. However, I wish obvious rule violations, such as drafting in packs, should be harder penalized. As a pro female, with a strong bike leg, I sometimes feel frustrated when age groupers overtake me, and then slow down, so I wish the race marshals were more observant on the blocking violation, as it can affect the rhythm for many athletes.
ST: On a more positive note, I know you are getting ready for Ironman Austria. Are you fit?
Åsa: I am fitter than ever before, and it’s great feeling to know you are developing, and that there is more to develop. Hopefully I am fit enough to race a top placement in Klagenfurt
ST: What is your goal?
Åsa: To be as good so the best girls in the world will get a bit nervous when they see my name on the start list.
ST: Is all well with sponsors?
Åsa: I am very proud of the sponsors I have, and I am very thankful for their support. However, I am lacking the final piece of the puzzle to be able to go 100% pro. As it is now, my loans for medical studies also pays many of my travels.
ST: Is there anything else we should know?
Åsa: I won Ironman Sweden last year, and I am not planning that that race was my last Ironman victory. I am not paying the triathlon world a visit; I have come here to stay.
