How important it is to remove taboos from the topic of depression: The Mikael Ljungberg case shows this with painful clarity.
24 years ago the wrestler became a popular sports hero with his Olympic victory in Sydney, 20 years ago today he took his own life. And the shame of being open about his illness played a role.
“What should people think? The wrestler Mikael Ljungberg does not need psychological treatment”: Swedish media quoted a statement that he is said to have made in private family circles.
Ljungberg needed the treatment. And even if no one knows whether he would still be alive today if society had already advanced back then, it is very clear from his story that it would have been a help to him.
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Editor’s note: If you feel affected by depression and suicidal thoughts, please contact the telephone counseling service immediately (http://www.telefonseelsorge.de). On the free hotline 0800-1110111 or 0800-1110222 you can get help from advisors who have already been able to show ways out of difficult situations in numerous cases.
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Olympic gold made Ljungberg a folk hero
The Swedish public got to know Ljungberg, who was born in Gothenburg on June 13, 1970, as a successful competitive athlete.
In the 97 kilo class in the Greco-Roman style, Ljungberg won two World Cup and European Championship golds in the 1990s, as well as bronze at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996. The crowning moment of his career followed in Sydney. On September 26, 2000 – the same day that Tommy Haas paved the way to tennis silver with a triumph over Roger Federer – Ljungberg defeated the Ukrainian David Saldadze in the final.
It was the first Olympic wrestling gold for Sweden in 48 years. Because there were “only” four Olympic victories for Sweden in Sydney, the joyful sympathy was even greater. The photo in which the massive Ljungberg celebrates with King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia and is hugged by the regent like a proud dad went around the world and was one of the pictures of the games at home.
Strokes of fate worsened depression
Two years after the big victory, Ljungberg experienced a personally terrible year that took a toll on him: Ljungberg had to end his career due to a shoulder injury, and shortly afterwards his mother Gudrun died unexpectedly of a cerebral hemorrhage. After the stroke of fate, Ljungberg found no stability in his own marriage and separated from his wife a few weeks later.
Ljungberg’s self-image was badly shaken, even by the end of his sports career, as his friend and agent Kent Carlzon reported after Ljungberg’s death: “He said to himself: I’m good for nothing.”
In November 2003, Ljungberg spent several weeks in a psychiatric hospital, and the following year his situation seemed to improve: he fell in love again in the spring, then successfully applied for a new job in the summer as sports director of the Swedish Wrestling Association.
Relapse is fatal
However, Ljungberg immediately faced headwinds and there were public discussions about his suitability for the position. Among other things, female wrestlers expressed skepticism as to whether he would also pay sufficient attention to female athletes with his influence.
The criticism affected the sensitive Ljungberg, as his girlfriend later reported. His critics had no way of knowing how dangerously close. At this point, Ljungberg had already made two suicide attempts.
Ljungberg’s new girlfriend observed increased withdrawal behavior in the last weeks of his life; on the second weekend in November 2004, Ljungberg had to be admitted to a clinic because he was acutely ill. Because he was not consistently supervised, the illness took his life there on November 17, 2004. He was only 34 years old.
Ten years after Ljungberg’s death, he was posthumously inducted into the International Wrestling Hall of Fame. His legacy also lived in a foundation to support athletes who are characterized by fairness and humility. The last beneficiary in 2018 was the pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, who has now become a superstar.
