Inside the Sauna with Olympian Susan Külm

For Estonian biathlete Susan Külm, sauna has never been just about recovery.
It is a place for silence, focus and reflection — a ritual that began long before World Cups, Olympic races and international podiums.

Some of Susan’s earliest sauna memories come from her family’s old countryside sauna in Hiiumaa, where she spent time as a child. Heat was never something to fear.

“My grandpa loved to throw a lot of leil, so it was always really, really hot,” she says with a smile.

She started going to sauna at just four or five years old. At first, she sat on the lower bench. As she grew older, she earned her place on the top. A small detail that now feels symbolic of her journey in professional sport.

Today, Susan Külm is one of Estonia’s leading biathletes. In 2024, she helped Estonia achieve a historic 4th place in the women’s relay at the World Championships in Nove Mesto. One of the country’s strongest results in biathlon at a major championship.

A year later, she made history again in Otepää by winning Estonia’s first-ever IBU Cup gold medal in the individual race. With clean shooting and strong skiing on home snow, the performance became one of the defining moments of her career so far.

A Place to Slow Down

Biathlon is a sport that demands extreme concentration. Hours of endurance training are combined with the precision and calmness of shooting under pressure. For Susan, sauna offers the perfect counterbalance.

“After training I use sauna because it’s real relaxation. During training I always have to stay focused.”

Unlike many athletes who turn to ice baths and cold plunges, Susan prefers a softer transition after the heat.

“I love the heat, not the cold,” she laughs. “I like sitting outside in the fresh air or putting my feet in the snow, but I’m not really a cold plunge person.”

And when it comes to sauna itself, Susan has a clear preference. “I prefer a wood-burning sauna heater,” she says.

For her, the ideal sauna experience is simple and authentic: strong heat, fresh air and a quiet sauna house away from distractions. “A real sauna for me is a place where you can enjoy hot steam, step outside into the fresh air and truly slow down.”

Sauna as Mental Recovery

While sauna helps the body recover after training, Susan values it even more for the mental reset it provides. “In sauna I lie down, close my eyes and think,” she says. “It’s my alone time where I can think about life, dreams and goals.”

That moment of stillness is something she carries with her into competition as well. In a sport where composure matters as much as physical strength, learning how to stay calm is essential.

A Natural Partnership with HUUM

Susan’s relationship with sauna reflects many of the same values that inspire HUUM: authenticity, balance, presence and connection to Nordic nature.

Looking ahead, Susan’s biggest dream is the 2027 World Championships in Otepää, where she hopes to fight for a podium place in front of a home crowd.

And somewhere between intense training sessions, snowy tracks and international competitions, sauna remains one of the few places where she can fully slow down, reset and reconnect with herself.