The fact that all four finalists train together 300 days a year was noticeable on the court. Weaknesses were exploited on both sides and the points were exchanged. When Jacob Hölting Nilsson blocked home a point to make the score 20–20 in the first set, the roof lifted in the arena.
"It's incredible how many Swedes have made it here, on the other side of the world, as it were. We've really felt the support," says Hellvig.
In coordinated movements, the packed stadium cheered on the popular Swedish teams. On the sidelines sat two people who struggled with a more laid-back role than usual.
“Played really well”
Neither national captain Rasmus Jonsson nor coach Anders Kristiansson sat in the usual coaching positions at the pitch. The teams were left to decide on tactics both before and during the match.
After some nice duels, it was finally Åhman/Hellvig who took home the first set 25–23.
They played really well, we had a hard time stopping them. At the same time, we also played well so it was really every other point for a while, so it was nice that we could get those points at the end and take it home, says David Åhman.
The second offered just as much drama. Neither the heat nor the stubborn Australian flies seemed to bother the Swedish medalists. In the end, something happened, maybe it was routine that showed or maybe it was just the form of the day, but Åhman/Hellvig scored several critical points and took a 17–14 lead, a lead they never let go of.
“Really sick”
When David Åhman scored 21–19, it made him and Jonatan Hellvig world champions for the first time. Now they have won all major championships.
"It's pretty sick. It's really fun that we can check off all the major championships now, it feels absolutely fantastic," says Åhman.
They don't think it's their last gold, but whether they'll ever get to play in an all-Swedish final again is more uncertain. Everything has to go their way, both with form and the draw.
"The fact that it will be Sweden versus Sweden in a final is incredibly cool but also completely unlikely. Everything should go our way for both teams and that it does so at their first World Cup is actually quite crazy," says Jonatan Hellvig.
Now a well-deserved rest awaits after a long and tiring season, right?
The Swedish fans are wondering where the afterparty is.
"We'll figure something out," laughs the newly crowned world champions.
