When Jenny Rissveds crossed the line in Crans-Montana last weekend to claim her first elite rainbow jersey, it wasn’t just another addition to her glittering palmarès of Olympic gold, national titles, and World Cup wins. It was a testament to what a wholesale perspective change can breed.
Dominic Geoghegan
Nine years ago, Rissveds, then just 22 and in her first season racing full-time in the elite category, took a stunning Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro, before expectation, depression and a long break from the sport followed. Her experience proved that even the most gifted athletes aren’t immune to burnout or the crushing weight of an identity tied to competitive results.
Now, 31 years old and back on top of the sport while riding for Canyon Cllctv, Rissveds has been on a win streak since late July, taking short-track and XCO wins in the European Championships and the Haute-Savoie World Cup, and now an XCO World Championship. But Rissveds has done more than win again. She’s reframed what winning means. For her, the rainbow bands don’t signify a return to who she was in 2016, but a continuation of the rider and person she has become since stepping away in 2017-2018.
What’s striking in conversation is not just her candour, but her clarity. She speaks of medals with the detachment of someone who knows their limits, treats life balance like another discipline to master, and views the sport with a critical, forward-looking eye.
So what does an Olympic champion and now World Champion see when she looks back — and forward? What keeps her motivated when she’s already ticked every box in mountain biking? And how does she balance the role of symbol and athlete while staying true to herself?
Jenny Rissveds doesn’t just have answers, she has perspective and a deep level of introspection that reveal her true character.
'Happiness comes from the process'
For Rissveds, the rainbow jersey is not just about being the fastest in the world; it’s a reminder of a lesson she learned the hard way.
Rissveds' win at the 2016 Olympics put her at the top of the sport, but the pressure and expectation that followed proved harder to beat.
“It’s important to remember who you are without the results,” she told Escape Collective in an interview after her win at Worlds. “Not just to be the athlete, but to find yourself outside of your sport. It’s so easy to think you are your results. If you’re doing well, that’s amazing. But if you’re not, it can be really tough.”
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