Simone Christensen is a Danish racer from Denmark, she's competed at the 2016 Olympic Games and won gold at the 2015 European Games. Her race record is not only impressive but she's also some how doing her medical studies while training. She's definitely one of my favorite racers to watch, so keep reading if you want to learn more about her!
Beatrice: How were you first introduced to BMX and was being an elite rider always the goal? Did you have any set backs in between that time?
Simone: My brother was super into riding small bikes and jumping, so my parents took us down to the local track. My brother didn't wanna have the sweaty and used helmets on (bare in mind he was 6), but apparently I didn't care haha. So I tried and then he also tried, and from there on we started (2002).
I have some of my journals from when I was a kid, where I wrote that I just wanna be the best BMX'er in the world, so yes I think that was my goal the whole time haha.
Mainly the setbacks I have had, has been while I was a junior rider and Elite, not too many before that.
Beatrice: How's the race scene in Denmark and aside from yourself, are there any female racers we should keep an eye on?
Simone: Yes for sure! Specially on the girls side it's looking good with Malene Kejlstrup who was European Champ in girls 15 last year, and Mia Christensen who is former European and World Champion, she is now 15 years old.
Beatrice: You recently had surgery, and it seems your recovery was pretty fast! What happened, and how are you doing today?
Simone: Well for me it feels like forever haha, I started having this random pain in my leg in October, and no one could figure out what it was before in the beginning of January. There was a small infection in my right femur. The surgeon opened up my leg all the way to my bone, made a hole into the bone and rinsed out the infection. I had to wait 6 weeks before I could ride again, because the bone was weakened from the surgery. It still isn't the best, but it's slowly getting back to normal, and the pain is less and less, but still looking forward to it being 100% okay again!
Beatrice: 2016 was a really big year with the Olympics, but looking at your posts, it also had some devastating moments. Going through that experience, what's the biggest lesson you learned and what's your plan moving forward with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics?
Simone: It definitely was a big year! I think I mainly learned what I was capable off. I never expected to be battling the 3 girls that ended up taking the medals in the final, but it was for sure devastating not making the final due to stupid small crashes in the last corner. There's nothing I would do differently though, I felt like I rode as good as I could and as devastating it was, I'm still proud of my riding them 3 motos.
Beatrice: These days, how do you split your week with training and being in med school? What's a typical week like and what's a general pro tip you can give to racers?
Simone: This year I have done it differently school wise, and I don't go to the classes and lectures I have and try to just do it on the side, reading the very heavy books myself. This is mainly because I wanna just focus on my training, and don't wanna be rushed to make it to a 2 hour boring lecture haha. So training is always first, and I'm still not sure if I'll take the exam I have coming up, as it is just before the World Championships, so I will see if I'm ready for that exam or not.
So a typical week for me is basically the same every day; get up early so I can study a bit before my first session, back home for some lunch and study some more, getting ready for next session if it's a 2 session kinda day, and then back home to relax and study a bit more. I try not to study too late, as it ruins my sleep thinking about medical stuff just before heading to bed.
Pro tip: Probably just try to enjoy every training, and get through the hard days knowing you still have done your best! Hard works always pays off!
Beatrice: How do you spend your recovery days and what's your go to protein shake or supplement that you'd recommend?
Simone: I spend them on catching up with my studying, as I'm always behind haha. Else I make plans to see my friends, so I can use my day off on anything else but training. That fuels me up for the next days of training! I buy my own (protein), so I just get whatever I like flavourwise!
Beatrice: What are your thoughts on the 2018 Worlds location being in Baku, Azerbaijan? Here in North America, I hear parents are opting out based on the location and safety. Any thoughts or tips on this?
Simone: I've been there before, for the European Games in 2015, and I loved the place! Obviously it's very different from Denmark, Canada etc. but I didn't feel uncomfortable at any time. I'm sure if you check out the locations, you can easily find a place to stay where you feel safe if that's what worries you.
Beatrice: If you became a tourist guide for all of Denmark, and you had to set up an itinerary for a racer, what tracks would you send us to and on top of that, what does one eat in Denmark!?
Simone: I love the Copenhagen track, but unfortunately I live a few hours from that, but that's definitely a place to be for a racer! Else Skanderborg, my training track, is also fun. For this year I signed with a club in Randers, and they are building a full size SX track that's gonna be super awesome, so can't wait for that!
Uhm, I guess if you have an old school kinda meal it's potatoes, gravy and meat. And I think we eat a lot of different types of bread haha else, I think it's pretty varied meals like everywhere else.
Beatrice: If you could live anywhere, do anything, what would it be right now?
Simone: Live in California (or at least somewhere warm), and of course ride BMX. Maybe even go to med school there!
Lastly. because I am Canadian, we want to know: Between Tory Nyhaug and James Palmer, who takes longer to take a selfie?
Simone: Haha gotta say Tory (mainly because James said that haha).
