Swimmer, sustainability advocate and Swedish icon – Therese Alshammar is known not only for her Olympic medals but also for her deep commitment to conscious living. Since retiring from elite sports, she has focused on health, eco-friendly innovation and inspiring mindful choices. This fall, she joins Nordic Organic Expo as moderator – bringing her passion for the planet and love of water to the stage.
It’s no secret that Therese Alshammar has a deep love for water. She spent the better part of her life in it – as one of the most decorated swimmers in history – she is a true icon of Swedish sport. But today her relationship with water is something else entirely. It’s about reverence, healing and preservation – not records.
– I truly love water. The element itself is so important – it feels like flying, says Therese with a smile.
In 2016, after more than two decades of elite competition, Therese stepped away from the pool. It wasn’t a decision made lightly – and with it came emotional weight. Letting go of a life built around training, discipline and identity was both a relief and a loss.
– I stopped because of injuries. My body was hurting. In the beginning, it felt like grief – you lose your sense of belonging and identity, says Therese.
But with time and reflection, something powerful unfolded. Life after swimming became a journey of transformation – from elite athlete to conscious changemaker. She began to transfer the lessons of sport into everyday life.
– It was a valuable period of learning that helped me find a sense of inner security. That’s when you dare to challenge yourself again.
Therese never allowed herself to be boxed in by her success. Even at the height of her career, she saw personal growth as more important than the podium. Today, she brings that same mindset into her work for sustainability and conscious living.
– Sports are really about growth, learning new things and developing as a person.
That mindset was nurtured early on. Growing up, her mother was ahead of her time – choosing organic food, avoiding processed products and questioning chemicals long before “eco” became trendy. It gave Therese a deep foundation that would later guide her lifestyle.
– My mom was always very focused on organic and locally sourced food – I was gratefully informed from an early age.
Still, it wasn’t until she became a mother herself that it all clicked into place. Suddenly, the impact of everyday decisions – from the food on the table to the products under the sink – felt urgent and real. It sparked something new.
– You wake up when you have kids. Before that, you don’t really respect yourself in the same way.
Therese began noticing the things that didn’t feel right – unnecessary plastic, harsh cleaning products and the lack of organic food options for children. Instead of accepting it, she created her own solutions – launching small-scale, sustainable products made in Sweden.
– There were so many things I found lacking. So I developed my own cleaning products, produced on a small scale in Sweden – I love water and I work to avoid wastewater.
This fall, Therese will bring that same energy and experience to Nordic Organic Expo – where she’ll serve as moderator this fall.
– It feels so exciting to be part of this. People are genuinely interested and want to contribute to change, she says with a smile.
Her view on sustainability is broad but rooted in the personal. It’s not just about the climate crisis – it’s about what we put on our bodies, how we feed our families and how we take care of our health. For Therese, it’s a matter of integrity.
– I think about the planet of course. But I also think about myself – the content of the things I use and how they make me feel.
And yet, the deeper layer is always the same: connection. Therese believes that real change happens when people see themselves as part of something bigger – part of a collective, not isolated individuals. This belief drives everything she does.
– It’s important to help people see that they’re part of something bigger – we’re all connected and we all matter.
So, what does Therese hope to bring to the stage as moderator? Honesty, warmth and a real sense of shared purpose. It’s about planting seeds – and reminding people that even small steps matter.
– To be part of Nordic Organic Expo and help spread this message – that you don’t have to be perfect and instead just willing to do good – that’s what excites me.
By Rebecca Hyde-Price Aggestam
