Picture by Emma Lund
The 26-year-old Dane, who suffers from cerebral palsy and is the reigning world champion in the T2 classification, shared her inspiring story with Olympics.com.
Para-cyclist Emma Lund knows how it feels not to fit in.
She was born with cerebral palsy, a disorder that affects her motor skills, balance, movements, and cognitive abilities.
It has affected her not only physically, but also mentally.
“During my teenage years, I always felt that I was wrong or different,” Lund told Olympics.com. “I just didn't feel like I was good enough to be here.”
“I think if you talk to a lot of other disabled people, they have somewhat the same feeling of their self-esteem.”
“When I started cycling, it was the first time I felt like, 'I'm good at something.' And that someone suddenly couldn’t come and take that away from me. It gave me some kind of confidence.”
A confidence that increased, as the Dane progressed in the sport, eventually claiming last year the distinctive rainbow jersey, the symbol of being cycling world champion.
Emma Lund pictured with her 'trike.'
Growing up with a twin sister, who does not suffer from cerebral palsy, Lund had always had a mirror of herself.
Lund and her twin sister share a very close bond, although it has been difficult for her to see someone who looks just like her doing things she couldn't.
"It has given me some kind of ideal of what I should be able to do and some kind of unequal competitor," Lund said. “But in my upbringing, I wasn't raised to be different.”
In school, Lund observed how people reacted to her disability. Although she doesn't explicitly mention 'bullying,' it seems like that was what she experienced due to her involuntary movements.
On the first day of high school, for instance, she was nervous and full of excitement, but the welcome she received by her new classmates was not as she had hoped.
“I was met with comments like ‘are you drunk?’, ‘are you on drugs?’,” she recalled. “It's not that I can't understand their reaction. But it’s not very nice to be told those things when you are just trying to fit in.”
“I did everything I could to not stand out. I was there in high school, not knowing a single person, and then I get pointed out as being different.”
Around that age, Lund also started going out to bars and clubs like any other teenager. But that also turned out to be a challenge because of her disorder.
“Many times, I have not been allowed to enter, or I was kicked out. And my friends were kicked out too, because they argued with the bouncer,” she explained. “My twin sister and I have been going out together quite a few times, because it’s a safe space for me that I have someone I trust, and who will back me up around.
“She is banned from a night club, because she had an argument with a bouncer about whether I was allowed to enter or not. I just wanted to experience the atmosphere, that you feel when you are young. Unfortunately, you see disabled people very rarely in the nightlife.
“I didn’t want to be pointed out as being different, but anyway it happened. So, I have often faced these defeats that you encounter in society. It has been really difficult to adapt my mindset to a society that doesn’t fit me, and that is something I’m still working on, but now I have accepted it as much as possible.”
Cycling has had a big impact on Lund’s life since her childhood, where she loved watching the Tour de France. “It has always been the highlight of my summer vacation,” the para-cyclist said.
Her parents and siblings enjoyed going for a bike ride, and every time they got back, they would talk about how nice the nice route was, and what they have seen, leaving Lund with a feeling of ‘missing out’.
She tried a two-wheeled bike several times, but it was not possible for her to control it. “I could not concentrate on two things at the same time, because my balance is so bad,” Lund explained.
In 2018, Lund reached out to the Paralympic committee in Denmark, which proved to be a life-changing decision.
Parasport Denmark introduced her to the ‘trike’, a tricycle developed for people with coordination and balance problems used in the T1-T2 classifications. She met with the para-cycling national team, and it was love at first sight for the young Dane.
“I remember the first time I was sitting on this bike thinking; ‘this is what I need to do’. The purpose of my life is to become as good as possible on that bike,” Lund said. “Then there was this carrot that I could ride with my parents and siblings, which was my driving force.”
“It took some practice to learn how to ride it. But no matter how many times I crashed, I just needed to get back up. That was my mindset. I’m not going to give up that easy. Quickly, I felt that I could actually achieve something in this sport. I wanted to be world champion in something.”
Also, cycling had a positive impact on Emma Lund's mental well-being and served as an important tool in helping her overcome a 12-year-long depression.
”Cycling has given me a free space and a mental boost,” the 26-year-old said. “The training releases endorphins in the brain, and that free space that you get when you are cycling is just the best. I love it, and it has given me a lot of self-confidence.”
“Of course, some of the unpleasant experiences are still stored in me somewhere. But I’m so happy that I found this sport where I can compete on equal terms with others that have the same challenges as me. It shows me that my disability does not have to be a limitation.”
It did not take long for Lund to get results. Already in 2021, she became the national champion. The following year, she claimed a bronze medal at the European Championships and the World Championships in the T2 classification.
However, her career highlight came in 2023, when she became world champion in Glasgow, defeating the big favourite Celine van Till from Switzerland in a sprint.
“I had never beaten her before,” Lund said. “My family was there, and all was set up for me to win. I was so angry after my bronze medal in the individual time trial, where I came seven seconds short of silver.”
“So, I just thought; 'now I have to give everything I can'. It was just the coolest feeling to win it”.
Then she added: “It was unbelievable to wear it (the rainbow jersey). I can’t describe it. It was so wild.”
Earlier this year, in January, Lund’s extraordinary performance in Scotland was honoured with the Danish culture minister’s Para Sport Award. She was celebrated on stage at a yearly sports award show in Herning, where a lot of Denmark’s sports stars also were present.
“I had prepared a nice speech, but when I looked down from the stage and saw Mikkel Hansen with the rest of the men’s national handball team, I couldn't remember anything. I got very nervous, but it was a really cool experience, and I could share it with my family that motivates me every day.”
With Lund’s results, Denmark has secured a quota for Paris 2024, which is expected to be given to the 2023 world champion.
At the end of 2022, Lund dropped out of nursing school to focus on cycling, and since last year she has been a full-time para-cyclist with the support of the National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark.
Now, she is fully committed to the Games in France, and despite currently dealing with a back injury, she has high expectations for herself.
“Is it arrogant to say that I expect to win gold? I would also be satisfied with a gold in the road race and a silver medal in the time trial,” said Lund, who has just been in Paris to see the route.
“The key will be to focus on my strengths and try to improve my weaknesses. Although I don’t know exactly how to improve my weaknesses, but I will have to try and do that.
“It’s a bit sad that I can’t ride in the rainbow jersey at the Paralympics. That could have been so cool.”
Besides aiming to get a great result in the French capital, Lund hopes to encourage others, who have been in a similar situation to her.
“I really hope that I can help show others with disabilities that cycling is a great sport,” Lund emphasised. “I hope that people with or without disabilities can experience, what cycling can give you. The joy you have on the bike also helps to strengthen yourself.
“They must see the possibilities of not having to limit yourself, even if you are disabled.”
As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
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