'I suffered a frozen penis twice at the Olympics – it was unbearable the second time'
Professional cross-country skier Remi Lindholm has represented Finland at the Winter Olympics, but he's also suffered the ultimate pain in his career.
There have been numerous sports injuries causing people to writhe in agony over the years.
Anderson Silva's dreadful leg break against Chris Weidman in UFC 168 and Mike Tyson's infamous bite on Evander Holyfield's ear during their second bout are two incidents that had spectators cringing and covering their eyes. However, depending on the sport, there are far more ghastly potential injuries for professional athletes.
Most chaps would surely suggest that a misaimed boot to the privates represents one of the worst forms of physical torment. Yet, this pales in comparison to the excruciating trauma of a frozen penis – an unfortunate fate suffered twice by skier Remi Lindholm.
This 26-year-old Finnish cross-country skiing star, despite enjoying some of the world's most esteemed runs and representing his nation at the 2022 Winter Olympics, has not been without affliction. One low point came during the aforementioned Beijing Games.
The cold snap sweeping through China's capital rendered his manhood null during the reduced 30km event. He told Finnish outlet IL after the chilling contest: "You can guess which body part was a little bit frozen when I finished.
"It was one of the worst competitions I've been in. It was just about battling through." He admitted that he experienced "unbearable" pain as he acclimated to typical conditions after an embarrassing injury that wasn't his first.
The previous year, he had faced the same humiliating ailment when the freezing weather in Ruka, Finland, affected his private parts. A warming bag meant to thaw the skier's nether region was on hand post-race, yet Lindholm expressed worry over his future ability to father children.
Notably, Lindholm isn't alone in his undesirable encounter with frosty privates on the slopes – Swede Calle Halfvarsson also fell victim to this chilling fate last year and has been warning folks to avoid the sport since.
Competing in a 20km World Cup event in Ruka led to a chilling disaster for Halfvarsson. He revealed to Swedish newspaper Expressen: "I have frozen my penis. For real. Damn, I had to lie in there [warm-up tent] for 10 minutes to warm it up. It hurts so damn much. It's terrible."
He confessed that his future male progeny might face difficulty if he continues to pursue the sport. When asked if he could put in words the pain felt, Halfvarsson said: "No. Those who know, they know. But you should get a tip from me. Stay away from it, because it is the worst thing you can experience."
So, heed the advice of these cross-country athletes if you're planning a skiing trip anytime soon. Get prepared and pack a heating bag to avoid unusual frostbite accidents, and save yourself from a chilly willy!
