Nicolai will tell you about everything that is not listed on the packages when you buy steroids.

More and more young people are drawn to the dream of the perfect body. For Nicolai Rytter, anabolic steroids became a shortcut that has made him addicted. At the People’s Meeting, he hopes to make others more aware of just that.

When Nicolai Rytter takes the stage in the University of Copenhagen tent at Folkemødet, it will be in the company of people who have “science on their side”.

Nicolai Rytter doesn’t have that, and that’s actually the whole point.

He takes anabolic steroids. And for him it is important to help explain the consequences that steroids can have:

“I hope I can give an insight into why people start. There are a lot of people attending this meeting who have PhDs and all sorts of crazy things in this field. They have science on their side. But one thing is what the research says, another is what actually happens in the body when you take these things. And I think that is incredibly important to get out to those who come and listen.”

Because strength training and bodybuilding have become increasingly popular among young men in recent years, Nicolai Rytter believes it is important to have an event like this at Folkemødet. He says that he can see – especially on social media – that it has become fashionable to live a healthy life, exercise and strive to have the perfect body.

“If you want it, anabolic steroids can be a nice easy shortcut. But it’s important that there is a voice that can tell them that there is a downside to the coin, including physical side effects and psychological dependence – all these things that are not on the back of the packages.”

Steroids were the salvation

His path into steroid abuse began when Nicolai Rytter was at his worst. He found himself in a black hole after stopping taking cocaine. The money he didn’t spend on cocaine he now spent on a training coach. Together they set out to enter the bodybuilding scene, and steroids became the easy shortcut.

Today, Nicolai Rytter does not describe himself as an addict, but a consumer.

How do you differentiate the two things?

“There is something called overuse, and then there is consumption. There are probably many who would say that no matter how little or how much you take, you have an addiction. I feel a bit the other way around. I wouldn’t call myself an addict today, but I would back then when I was competing (for bodybuilding, ed.), because the amounts were so large.”

It is difficult for Nicolai Rytter to imagine a life without steroids. That is why he and the other debaters want to shed light on the psychological dependence on stage.

He explains that once you have become as addicted as you are, the consequences of completely quitting can be overwhelming and extensive.

FAKTA

The hunt for the chopped body

The University of Copenhagen will hold 39 events at Folkemødet 2025.

The debate, The Hunt for the Chopped Body – Beauty Ideals, Fitness Doping, will be held on Thursday, June 12th at 5 pm at square G35.

In addition to Nicolai Rytter, Anti Doping Denmark and Svend Brinkmann will participate in the conversation about how to break with extreme ideals and promote a culture where health and well-being take precedence over body projects.

“It takes a lot of effort to stop. That’s why I keep going. I just can’t go back into that hole like I did after cocaine. I’m sure I could fight my way out of it, but the price you pay and the length of time… It’s not worth it. You lose your testosterone, so you become completely depressed, drained of energy, no sex drive, nothing. And it takes a long time. A really long time to get back on top.”

Nicolai Rytter works at a school with vulnerable young people on a daily basis. Such a gap, which he fears he will end up in, will have major consequences for his everyday life.

On your own body

On stage, Nicolai Rytter hopes that his experience can help put a stop to the seriousness of the situation.

“I can speak from what I have experienced myself. What good and bad things it does. I think you have more faith in someone who does it themselves, instead of some researcher who has been doing it for 5-10 years.”

How do you imagine it will be to share the stage with researchers and experts who will probably advocate that this is really stupid?

“Then I will use the classic example that I have used many times before: Every time a smoker lights up a cigarette, they are also aware that it can lead to COPD and lung cancer. But they light up the next one anyway. And why do you do that?”, he asks:

“Because of the addiction.”

Overview

You can experience this on Politiken’s stages

Politics traditionally has a large program at the People’s Assembly.

Experience, among others, Roald Als in conversation with Mette Frederiksen, Danish Prime Minister in debate, Elisabet Svane and Noa Redington, a live edition of Bente Klarlund’s letterbox, Margrethe Vestager interviewed by Christian Jensen and much more.

The musical performances are provided by Anne Linnet and Peter A.G. Nielsen.

See the full program here.

Josephine Mosbæk Quinones