By  Jon Forsling, published in Aftonbladet.se March 4, 2011
Thanks to Ingegerd Claesson , who found and translated it.

Rybak has vomited several times during ”Let’s dance” – now he speaks out about the drama. The dramatic vomiting during the live broadcast wasn’t a one-time happening. Now Alexander Rybak,24, choose to speak about what caused the drama in ”Let’s dance” last week.
– I have been very, very depressed, he says.

It was last week the Norwegian Eurovision winner Alexander Rybak, 24, unexpectedly interrupted an interview with David Hellenius in TV4’s ”Let’s dance”. He had just finished his dance performance with his partner Malin Johansson when he suddenly excused himself.
– Dear jury and David, can you entertain Malin for a minute? I just have to run to the bathroom, he said during the live broadcast and rushed out.

Start competing for real now

Afterwards he revealed that he had to go to a toilet to vomit. The reason given was a temporary stomach disease or food poisoning, but Alexander Rybak now chooses to tell Nöjesbladet[section of Aftonbladet] the truth.

– It has been like this the last weeks, I just have managed to hide it.

Do you mean that you have vomited several times during this period?

-Yes, yes. But I’m feeling much better now.

Then he starts talking and tells that the time in ”Let’s dance” have been full of physical and emotional problems:

– I haven’t had a vacation for three years. I have started to say no to some things now, but before I was trying to be an ”alpha-male” and be able to do many things at the same time. Now I’m happy that I didn’t try to be happy during those periods when I was very, very depressed. Now it feels like I can start to compete for real. ”Let’s dance is like a long distance race, now I have a completely different attitude.

Only breaths through the mouth

What was it that made you feel bad?

– It was many factors that impacted it. Private stuff that I don’t want to talk about, at the same time it was all the jobs I was doing. It didn’t give my any time to think about private matters until I was going to bed. Then I started to think about my private problems and couldn’t sleep. Then there’s a medical problem which makes it only possible to breath through my mouth, I’m getting treatment and eats a lot of tablets. I have only been healthy for ten days this year.

Have you gotten any help for this?

– Yes I have sought more professional help than I ever thought I was going to need.

Are you talking with someone or is it more of a medical help?

– Both. Everyone has stated that I’m normal. I’m just Norwegian(laugh).

What does your family say?

– It was dad who convinced me to continue with ”Let’s Dance”.
He said; ”It’s good that you listen to the doctors , but if you quit now you will always feel the pressure, because you once quit a job”.

Were you seriously thinking about leaving ”Let’s Dance”?

– Everyone around me said I should do it. But I made the best out of the situation.

After ”Let’s dance” Alexander Rybak plans to take it easier.

-I hope I will able to leave the pop-star life for a while. I have made two albums in two years, and I’m very privileged. That part of being famous is fun.
– But I do not feel that I am accomplishing anything great in the world by dancing.

Rybakfakta

Name : Alexander Igorevich Rybak. Age : 24. Lives : Oslo. Profession : Artist and composer. Family : Mother Natasha and father Igor. When asked if he has a girlfriend, Rybak answers cryptically: “I will find out in two days”. Breakthrough : On a broad front in 2009 when he won the Eurovision song song test with the song “Fairytale”. Has released two albums: “Fairytales” in 2009 and “No boundaries” in 2010. Current : Competes in TV4’s “Let’s dance” tonight, together with Malin Johansson.