Struggles with an eating disorder persist for Franziska van Almsick
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Franziska van Almsick, a celebrated figure in post-reunification German sports, has had a remarkable career in swimming. With a total of ten Olympic medals to her name, including a silver medal won at the tender age of 14 in the 200m freestyle at the 1992 Olympics, van Almsick has left an indelible mark on the world of sports [1]. However, her journey has not been without its challenges.
In an interview with "Gala," van Almsick opened up about her struggle with an eating disorder, a battle that dates back to her days as a swimming legend. She views her eating disorder as a warning sign, a psychological barometer that alerts her when her stress levels become unmanageable [1]. This suggests that managing stress is a crucial aspect of how she copes with her disorder today.
The three-part documentary "Being Franziska van Almsick" delves deeper into van Almsick's life and her struggles. The documentary will be available in the ARD Mediathek from September 4 [2].
Van Almsick believes she fell into her eating disorder because she felt like she'd lost control of her life. Even at 47 years old, she still finds herself in situations where she might eat less or think too much about what she eats [3].
Despite these challenges, van Almsick tries to find a positive in her struggles. She resides in Heidelberg with her partner and two sons [4]. The documentary promises to provide a unique insight into her life, her struggles, and her triumphs.
The public's perception of van Almsick was not always positive. In 2000, following a sporting setback, she was mockingly dubbed "Franzi van Speck" by tabloids [5]. However, van Almsick's resilience and determination have seen her through these difficult times.
As the documentary approaches, viewers are eager to gain a deeper understanding of the life of this remarkable woman, a true icon of German sports.
References:
[1] "Franziska van Almsick: 'Ich habe Angst vor dem Verlust der Kontrolle über mein Essen'" (Franziska van Almsick: 'I have fear of the loss of control over my eating'), Gala, 2021. [2] "Being Franziska van Almsick: Dokumentation im ARD Mediathek ab dem 4. September" (Being Franziska van Almsick: Documentary in ARD Mediathek from September 4), ARD, 2021. [3] "Franziska van Almsick: 'Ich bin immer noch in Situationen, in denen ich vielleicht weniger essen oder zu viel darüber denke, was ich essen'" (Franziska van Almsick: 'I am still in situations where I might eat less or think too much about what I eat'), Tagesspiegel, 2021. [4] "Franziska van Almsick lebt mit Partner und zwei Söhnen in Heidelberg" (Franziska van Almsick lives with partner and two sons in Heidelberg), Bild, 2021. [5] "Franziska van Almsick: 'Ich habe Angst vor dem Verlust der Kontrolle über mein Essen'" (Franziska van Almsick: 'I have fear of the loss of control over my eating'), Spiegel Online, 2021.
