CATHRINE ROSENGREN
We at Pure Lime are proud of having Cathrine Rosengren as a part of our ambassador team. She is a 25-year-old Danish Para badminton player. Despite her young age, she has achieved some amazing result during her career, being a four time World Champion bronze medalist and a two-time European champion. Additionally, she is one of the most promising contenders for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. We had the pleasure of chatting with Cathrine and getting to know her better.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Passionate, positive, and hard working.
What inspired you to start training badminton?
I had tried a couple of different sports but none of them really captivated me. When I was in first grade, I tried playing badminton together with some of the teachers at school and one of them asked me if I already trained badminton because he thought I was good. That’s the reason why I went home to my parents and said I wanted to play badminton.
Can you tell us about your decision on giving parabadminton a chance?
Deciding to join Para badminton wasn’t an easy decision for me. The first time I was asked, I was very young, and my mom quickly decided that I would do well, playing at a regular elite level in Denmark. However, when I was asked again at 17 years old, I found myself in a different phase of life. I was already in my second year of high school and I wasn’t quite sure about my aspirations in badminton. Despite training 5-6 times a week, I felt like I had reached a point where I was standing still.
Therefore, there were several factors at play when Badminton Denmark approached me in 2016. The first thing I though was ‘I don’t have a disability’. I didn’t see my left arm as a handicap, my family and I always just referred to it as ‘my weak arm’, and I had never felt that my arm hindered me from doing what I wanted. Therefore, it was an identity I suddenly had to accept and come to terms with. I had concerns about what others would think of me and whether my friends and close ones would change their perception of me. I think deep down, I knew that people wouldn’t change their view of me, but when you’re a teenager in 2nd grade, there are so many worries and feelings that you must perform all the time that runs through your mind.
The reason why I decided to go for it was probably a combination of it being new and exciting, but also a motivation boost in terms of training. I had been informed beforehand that I was a medal candidate for the European Championship, which was the tournament Badminton Denmark wanted me to participate in as my first international competition. I’m a competitive person who loves to win, so I thought it was great to have something to train towards again.
Looking back on it today, I’m incredibly happy that I took the leap even though it was far beyond my comfort zone. I have had fantastic experiences, made friends for life, and learned a lot about myself.
How do you take care of your mental health?
It is important for me to establish different priorities during weekdays and weekends, and overall engage in activities that make me happy, and not just to please others. I have become better at saying no to things and commitments if I feel they cause me more stress than benefit, and in general, I openly communicate this to my family, coach, and friends if I am going through a stressful period.
I have always been very hard on myself, especially when it comes to badminton and my performances. Therefore, I’ve realized how important it is to have an open dialogue with my coach as well as reviewing my matches. I often find that things are not as bad as they seemed when I was on the court. This helps me diminish negative thoughts the next time I find myself in a similar situation.
What has been the most rewarding moment in your career?
The times I’ve experienced the most personal growth were during all my solo trips abroad, where I didn’t have a coach or other fellow players from Denmark with me. Facing challenges and dealing with setbacks independently has made me stronger as a person.
What has kept me going in the sport for so many years now, is that I see this as the best opportunity to develop as a person and reach my full potential. I haven’t achieved my dream result yet, but I also know that I haven’t reached my full potential either, and therefore I will continue until I get there.
How do you overcome obstacles?
I try not to dwell on the negative for too long but instead try to turn it into something positive. For example, in cases of injuries, I try to find alternative forms of training. It’s okay to feel sad or frustrated in occasionally, as long as you get back up and keep working. I also believe it’s important to take a step back and look at the bigger picture and the process, rather than just being in the “here and now” situation.
What advice would you give to young women in sport?
My advice is to find a sport that you think is fun and then try to find a community within that sport. Don’t be afraid to experiment and explore the various aspects of the sport, and never let setbacks stop you. You learn from failure.
What motivates you?
It motivates me is seeing progress week by week. I know that I haven’t yet reached my full potential, and that motivates me to keep going. The fact that I find it fun, have a great community in my club, and a lot of international friends is just a huge bonus. I also love to see that young upcoming Para badminton players in Denmark (and abroad) look up to me, and I hope that Para badminton continues to grow in the future.
What are your favorite products from Pure Lime and why?
My ultimate favorite is the Compression Bra from the High Impact collection which I’ve been using for many years now. Additionally, the Invisible Thong and the entire Seamless collection are favorites of mine.