Anders Olsson

Anders Olsson knows the meaning of dedication, and all of Sweden knows him as a powerful role model for setting goals and overcoming obstacles. In 1996 and 1997, Anders endured a series of unfortunate events in the hospital system that left him paralyzed from the waist down. A sportsman all his life, Anders wasn’t going to let his new challenges keep him from living his life. After being bedridden for five years, a good friend gave him the strength he needed, and in 2002 he began training as a handicapped sportsman. His training also allowed him to make great gains as a person.

Today, Anders is a powerful paralympic athlete who specializes in long-distance swimming. As a personal achievement, Anders has improved on his world record speed 49 times! He won the gold medal at the Paralympic games in 2004 and is a world champion in handicapped swimming. In summer 2008, this current holder of nine different world records will be participating in the 400 meter freestyle race in the Beijing, China, 2008 Paralympics.

Anders’ story hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2007 Anders was voted as the best athlete in Sweden with a physical disability. He’s also been featured on television and in other media. In 2006, journalist Eva Wiklund wrote a book about Anders’ life. The Swedish title, Det Finns Ingen Gräns, literally means "there is no limit," meaning, "There is nothing stopping you."

Anders is not afraid to compete in any situation and enjoys challenging himself in different capacities. In 2005, Anders managed to complete the 90 kilometer Vasalopp ski race on a toboggan; to his knowledge, there are only a few handicapped people who have achieved the entire distance. And in 2007, he took part in the famous Swedish Vansbrosimning swimming competition; he finished ninth out of three thousand non-handicapped men. Anders also has a love for triathlons and hopes to qualify for the 2008 Iron Man Competition in Hawaii. This triathlon is one of the world’s toughest and only 1,700 athletes qualify for the opportunity to participate.

TAHITIAN NONI® Juice has been part of Anders’ training regimen for over a year. Training helps him greatly with his pain management, and by training regularly, Anders can live without having to take morphine and pain killers. Training is his rehabilitation. ”I have some very clear goals, and as they are always present in my thoughts, I must make sure that my everyday training is at the absolute top and that the recovery is effective,” he says. “Thanks to TAHITIAN NONI® Juice, my body recovers quickly and I can immediate start focusing on the next training.”

Anders also appreciates TaHIRO™ Vitalise [marketed in the United States as HIRO™ Vitality] and the positive effects it takes on his body. “Taking gold at the Olympics can come down to millimetres—and the difference is using the very last bit of energy that you can possibly find in your body. With TaHIRO Vitalise I get this last kick of energy, which makes me perform at my maximum during training and competing! Until TaHIRO Vitalise was launched I have avoided energy drinks because these often contain ingredients that are not very healthy. But because of the ingredients in TaHIRO Vitalise, I have found an energy drink which tastes good and is healthy! I drink at least one can of TaHIRO Vitalise every day!”

Anders’ sporting achievements give him the opportunity to inspire others. He knows it is important to reach out to as many people as possible and share his message of courage, dedication, and unrelenting desire. Learn more about Anders and his achievements at www.jarnmannen.com.

Accomplishments

Swimming
2008, Swedish Championship, 6 gold
2007, Swedish Championship, 6 gold
2006, World Championship, 2 gold, 1 silver
2005, Swedish Championship, 6 gold
2004, Swedish Championship, 5 gold
2004, Athena Paralympics, 1 gold, 2 bronze
2003, Swedish Championship, 8 gold
2003, European Championship, 3 gold, 1 bronze

World Records
52 World Records since October 2003
Current holder of 9 different World Records

Current World Records:
Short course 50 meter freestyle (S6) 00:30,34
Short course 100 meter freestyle (S6) 01:04,54 (01:04,20*)
Short course 200 meter freestyle (S6) 02:16,95 (02:15,06*)
Short course 400 meter freestyle (S6) 04:47,98 (04:44,17*)
Short course 800 meter freestyle (S6) 10:10,43 (09:51,42*)

Long course 100 meter freestyle (S6) 01:06,08 (01:05,76*)
Long course 200 meter freestyle (S6) 02:20,19 (02:19,50*)
Long course 400 meter freestyle (S6) 04:51,49 (04:48,57*)
Long course 800 meter freestyle (S6) 10:01,80 (09:59,11*)

* pending approval from IPC Swimming (International Paralympic Committee)

Triathlons
2007, Antwerp, Ironman 70.3, 4th place

Other Accomplishments
2007, Swedish Sportsman of the Year

Upcoming Events
2008, Beijing, Paralympics 400 meter freestyle
2009, Hawaii, qualifications for Ironman triathlon