Last year, Stig H Johansson was thanked by Solvalla after a career that has no equal in Swedish trotting sports. But when the Elitloppet was decided for almost two weeks ago, the 79-year-old was not present to hand out the prize that bears his name: Stig H Johanssons pokal.
Now his wife Karin Johansson tells that Stig H was diagnosed with Alzheimer's for several years ago. He has recently moved into a special residence near home.
Thousands of wins
”It didn't go on in the long run,” says Karin Johansson in an interview on the Alzheimer Life Foundation's website.
She tells that the disease began to show itself for seven to eight years ago, when her husband had trouble following the conversations and also had problems with orientation. In January 2020, they received the news.
But the trotting icon – Stig H Johansson has over 6,000 wins as a driver and more than 8,000 as a trainer – never wanted to talk about the disease.
Trained Victory Tilly
”It's a sorrow that my husband and I never could talk about his disease. We had won so much by gradually shutting down the farm's operations, and got to enjoy the last years together. But Stig H's identity was the horses and trotting. Without that, he was nothing,” says Karin Johansson.
Stig H Johansson won the Elitloppet six times, Travderbyt seven times and also took home the prestigious Prix d'Amérique in France. Among many star horses, Victory Tilly, Sweden's most winning trotting horse, stands out.
