The last game of the preliminary round takes place tonight for Iceland. An important game against South Korea that Iceland wants to win. But there are more important things than handball. Björgvin Páll Gústavsson released a new book just before Christmas called ”Barn versur forseti” (The child who became president) and Handbollskanalen got a chance to sit down with the charismatic goalkeeper to chat about the book, mental health, his thoughts about becoming president in Iceland and why he fights for children.
Most interviews during a World championship are about why the team won, what they need to do the next game to win again, or maybe why a certain player is playing at his highest level. But sometimes you have to focus on something else. Something that’s bigger than handball.
Not all players want to talk about hard times. Not all players have the courage. But one that certainly has no fears when it comes to being open about his life is Björgvin Páll Gústavsson. Handbollskanalen got to sit with the Icelandic goalkeeper at the team hotel in Kristianstad for an openhearted interview.
Before Christmas, the 37-year-old released his second book, titled Barn versur forseti” (The child who became president).
– The first book I released was my autobiography which was released some years ago. In that book, I tell the story of how I found out why I am like I am. And then, a couple of months ago, I wrote this children’s book that is almost a summary of my autobiography but more for children, says Björgvin Páll Gústavsson.
– It’s a pretty hardcore story that speaks about the six-year-old kid that bites his teacher, the 8-year-old who is taken from school and put in a psychiatric facility at the children’s hospital, and the 12-year-old who lives in the countryside and is being told that he is difficult to love. It’s a tough story and I had a rough childhood. I was very angry and handball and the people around me changed me for the better.
Changed from wanting to be famous to desire to be a role model
Björgvin explains that this is thy reason why handball is so important to him.
– When I was at the psychiatric facility I decided I wanted to be famous because if I became famous people would listen to me. And I have achieved that. Then when I was around 18 years old it changed from wanting to be famous to want to be a role model. My biggest goal in life is to be a role model and help children feel a bit better about themselves. And hopefully, by telling my story I can help people.
First Björgvin wanted to be famous like Michael Jordan. Sports people like Jordan were his role model but also the Icelandic president Vigdís Finnbogadóttir.
– When I received the medal of honor in 2008 after the Olympics I got extremely happy. But I also thought that one day I want to give out the medal instead of receiving it.
So you have serious thoughts about becoming president?
– Yes. But only time will tell if I will go into the presidential election. But it is also a metaphor in the book that children should aim high.
The book is about 40 pages long and starts with a summary of Björgvin’s life. In the book, there is also a prediction for the future, and at the end the weapons that he uses to feel better.
– These are weapons that I have gained in the past 10–15 years. Weapons regarding breathing, anxiety, and falling asleep. It’s my gift to children, gifts that I would have needed when I was a child.
The book was ready for several months, already written by Björgvin. But then he suddenly decided he wanted the book to be released before Christmas.
– I spoke to my author and told him I wanted it to be published before Christmas. Perfect, which Christmas? he answered. When I told him it was this Christmas he started laughing, but we got it out in time.
– We had a suicide in my wife’s family and you can see the signs everywhere that children’s mental health all over the world is not in a good place. And covid did not help. Therefore I am fighting for the children in Iceland and all over the world because their voices need to be heard. And Christmas is a tough time for children who are suffering because everything gets worse. In January we in the national team are the light in dark times in Iceland.
Foto: Privat
The charismatic goalkeeper has spoken about his childhood before and how he got bullied and then as a result started bullying other children himself.
– I think that is a normal reaction when you are young. So over the past few years, I have been speaking a lot to the other side, to the bullies themselves, to look at their underlying problems. If you tell a group of ten-year-olds that they are idiots you will just dig a deeper hole for them. You need to help them feel better.
– And that is why I still play handball, to help people. I have four children and this book is also written for them. My first autobiography was too heavy for them but my oldest daughter who is 9 years old got the first copy of my new book and she said it’s a sad story but that she thought the book could help people. That was very nice to hear.
Gústavsson and his wife have four children and he says that being away from them during the World championship triggers his anxiety.
– I love being a father but it triggers my anxiety. I have zero anxiety when it comes to handball and that is why I use handball when I am feeling bad. Being away from my children and my wife during the World championship for one month breaks my heart every day because I feel like a terrible father. I love playing for Iceland and especially in front of our amazing fans but it hurts not being able to help my wife when she has her own World championship at home, says Björgvin.
And she is not cheered on by over 2000 Icelandic fans either?!
– (Laugh). Exactly.
What is the message you want to get out there by writing this book?
– That everything will be okay. That is a sentence I would have wanted to hear when I was a kid. When I bit my teacher, when I was sent to the psychiatric facility, or when I had other difficult times. If a role model would have said those words to me it would have eased my pain.
– Handball is a place where I can show my emotions, be an idiot and try to intimidate people. But I can switch it off so when the game is over I try to be a humble family man and the player in the team that makes the most jokes. But not everybody gets to use handball as a weapon to speak out and show their talent. My sister did not have sports to help her out and she has been a drug addict for some years but she is clean right now. So the book is also for her and for the kids who don’t get to use sports as help. Nobody wants to be angry and there is always a story behind it all as to why someone is angry.
For now, the book is only available in Icelandic but it will be released in English in the future. At the end of our interview, Björgvin reveals to us that he is currently writing another book. The plot sounds very interesting.
– It will be about what goes through my head on gameday. I started writing it before our game against Portugal a few days ago and in it, I will try to put all my pain, all the happiness and everything in between that goes through my head, Björgvin says.
– It was pretty awesome to think about it during warm-ups and the national anthem. I want to tell my story – why I am like I am.