When Lina Nielsen describes her identical twin brother Laviai as the smarter sister, a specific story comes to mind for both of them.
It was the summer of 2012 and the siblings, then 16, were acting as bag carriers for athletes at the Olympic Games, a few miles from their own east London home of Leytonstone. On the first evening of athletics they were asked to wear the kit for the runners in heat five of the women’s heptathlon, 200 metres.
It was no coincidence that one of the Nielsens was behind the Games’ poster girl: Jessica Ennis-Hill.
“She planned it!” reveals Lina, still sad twelve years later, before her twin brother continues the story. “Luckily we had her in heat,” says Laviai. “But then I went on the warming sheet and saw she had lane six. We were told to pick up boxes with the numbers on them, so I made sure to pick up No. 6.”
Lina adds: ‘We didn’t know that! We all kicked ourselves. I’ve been watching the BBC camera on Laviai behind Jess for so long. I was so jealous and thought, “This is so unfair.”‘
British running twins Laviai (left) and Lina (right) Nielsen dream of Olympic glory
They carried athletes’ bags at London 2012, but were able to qualify for Paris together this year
Lina, who is the youngest twin by a minute, ended up carrying the bag of another Jessica: Zelinka from Canada. But both sisters were inspired by their experiences at what is now the London Stadium.
They describe themselves as the ’embodiment of the London 2012 legacy’ as they are set to take part in a Games together again – only this time as competitors rather than volunteers. Laviai, who was part of the Tokyo 2020 squad, achieved the Olympic qualifying time in the 400 meters and Lina achieved the Paris entry standard in the 400 meters hurdles.
The 28-year-olds also dream of playing in the same 4x400m relay team, something they achieved at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow in March when they won a bronze medal.
“We hadn’t been on stage together since our juniors in 2015, so it brought back memories of the beginning of our careers,” says Lina. ‘We both made it to the European Indoors in 2017 and then I retired with a stress fracture.
‘In 2021 I missed the Olympics by one place, then I almost ran the relay at the World Championships in 2022, but I got sick. So starting the Olympic year with a world medal with my sister was very special.’
The Nielsens have made it onto a world stage, despite both suffering from multiple sclerosis
It was also inspiring because the Nielsens reached a world stage despite both suffering from multiple sclerosis – the incurable, lifelong condition that attacks the brain and nerves.
Lina was 13 when she first experienced symptoms and was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS four years later.
She went public with her illness after finishing last in her 400m hurdles heat at the 2022 World Championships, explaining how her symptoms had flared up on the eve of her race, leaving her ’90 per cent numb’ on her left side become. Reflecting on that announcement, she says, “At first I was a little apprehensive about how it would be received, but it was very positive. In a way, it helped me accept my diagnosis and made me stronger. It almost set me free.
‘Many people assume that MS automatically leads to disability, but that is not the case. Many people with MS can continue their normal activities and exercise. If we can shine the light on that side, that story can change.’
Laviai was diagnosed with MS two days before she flew to the 2021 Tokyo Games. “I had sensations in my body that I couldn’t explain,” she recalls.
The twins (second from left and second from right) want to change the narrative around MS
‘I first told the team doctor and said that I had a history of MS in the family. Then they referred me because if you are a twin you have a higher chance of getting it.
‘At the time I didn’t accept it. I remember the doctor diagnosing me and I wanted him to stop talking because I had the Olympics in two days. I swept it under the rug, but when I came back I dealt with it.”
Fortunately, Laviai hasn’t had any flare-ups that affected her running, and Lina has also avoided major episodes since the events of 2022.
“Thankfully we both feel healthy and symptom-free, which is a great place to be,” says Lina. ‘We have learned to adapt our lifestyle to training with MS. We try to manage our stress levels and keep inflammation down with an anti-inflammatory diet.”
Maintaining a zen-like state is second nature to Lina, who is a qualified yoga teacher, while their shared passion for creating nutritious meals is documented on Instagram account Nielsen’s Kitchen. However, those hobbies are on the back burner this summer as they focus entirely on their Olympic dream.
Last October they moved to Aarhus, Denmark – their father’s homeland – to train together under former British athletics coach Tony Lester. The twins have always been best friends but now say they are inseparable.
They will aim for medals in Rome before turning their attention to booking their spots in Paris
“We really benefited from training together,” Laviai said. ‘There were years when we didn’t train together at all and also went to different universities. Even at school they divided us! So I think this is the most we’ve spent together.
‘We even started thinking of the same sentences at the same time. We’ve never really done that before, so it’s kind of fun to do that now that we’re a little older. We’ll bicker and stuff like someone ate the last cookie! But I can’t remember the last time we had an argument.’
As always on team trips, the Nielsens will share rooms during the European Championships in Rome, which start Friday. They will both be looking for their first major individual medals. Attention then turns to booking their place in Paris, with the British Olympic Trials at the end of next month.
“It would be great to have both of us there,” said Laviai, whose twin brother wants to make up for missing Tokyo.
“It was heartbreaking,” Lina continues. “I actually retired that year. I had four months off and I thought I would finish. I have had many near misses, setbacks and difficult times. But that only encouraged me.’