Team Alpha-1 Athlete
Team Alpha-1 Athlete is a sports team that works to educate about lung disease and Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency in particular, through participation in sports events, speeches and participation in patient activities. The team aims for inclusion in all sports for people with lung diseases and recognition of O2 deficit as a Paralympic criteria.
Team Alpha-1 Athlete is a small team, but we collaborate with other organizations, do fundraising for other organizations and individuals, and make projects in order to socialize, educate and mobilize others.
If you would like to work with us or sponsor some of our projects or the team, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Team Alpha-1 Athlete is officially registered in Norway.
Team Alpha-1 Athlete members
Karen Skålvoll
Karen is suffering from Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, and depends on oxygen when doing sports, sleeping and during sub-optimal daily conditions.
Karen is a Norwegian citizen, but has been living in Germany since 2011. She is declared 100% disabled by Norwegian social services due to the severeness and complications added to her diagnose.
Since starting receiving augmentation therapy in 2012, Karen slowly started working her way back to an active life with exercise and sport. Despite numerous setbacks, Karens iron will and determination takes her from one achievement to the next. In August 2016 she placed second in the female class at the Worlds Strongest Disabled Man World Championship, arranged in Manchester, UK.
Karen is a proud member of the O2&Cie Cycling Team in France, and was the only female member when the team completed the Lucien Aimar race in September 2016, the first time an official cycling race was organized under the French Cycling Association.
When it comes to powerlifting, Karen is a member of Bjørgvin Styrkeløftklubb in Bergen, Norway, and goes back to her home country several times a year to train and compete with them. She also competed in Miami Might in Florida US in November 2016. Here she won her class. This was also the first time that a powerlifter took part in a powerlifting competition on the American continent whilst being under oxygen therapy.
Torbjørn Skålvoll
Torbjørn is married to Karen, both Norwegians, they live in Germany.
He is Karens training partner in all her activites, apart from strongman, where he just acts as support and helper. He participates in OCR races with her, and does cycling with her carrying her oxygen.
He has a love for the great outdoors and despite never being an athlete he has taken every new challenge with great passion. Torbjørn finished his first half marathon in 2016 and is also transitioning into cross-fit.
