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The team manager's last Olympic Games: "I'm satisfied and happy"

Rather pension, but first as many medals as possible. The Swedish Olympic Committee's team manager Peter Reinebo got more than he dared to hope for – and thanks on top. I am pleased and happy to finish with an Olympic Games that goes really, really well, he says.

» Published: August 11 2024

The team manager's last Olympic Games: "I'm satisfied and happy"
Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT

Four gold, four silver, and three bronze. Eleven medals are one more than the goal the Swedish Olympic Committee set before the Olympic Games in Paris.

Reinebo is leaving his post at the turn of the year, after 15 Olympic Games. Fredrik Joulamo will take over as team manager in Milano-Cortina 2026.

Emotional?

Not really, and maybe it's because you don't stop and reflect, but just keep going.

What stands out in Paris, do you think?

That we take eleven medals in eight sports. It's both the most established ones, like Sarah (Sjöström) and "Mondo" (Armand Duplantis), but also a few of the new ones. Then I think of Victor (Lindgren) in shooting, Tara (Babulfath) in judo, and the guys in beach volleyball.

Full of admiration

I'm also full of admiration for table tennis, which does something that's more than their ranking, but also turns around matches and wins in special ways. Two medals are above expectations.

We also do a little better than comparable countries with greater resources, and that's important. We beat both Norway and Denmark, and I'm very pleased with that. It also says something that we're number 16 in the medal table, says Reinebo.

To maintain good results in future Olympic Games, the Swedish Olympic Committee needs greater revenues.

It's a resource issue to produce active athletes with high capacity. I hope we can manage that. Maybe these successes can lead to some commercial partners knocking on the door and wanting to be involved.

Reinebo praises the audience, the folk life, and the arenas as the most positive aspects of the Games, but he also delivers criticism.

It's about basic things like transportation and food for the athletes and leaders. It hasn't been up to standard, and the IOC doesn't think so either. Normally, it can get better after a few days, but here it hasn't gotten much better. It's felt a bit like school food and summer jobs. It's a disappointment.

Critical of equestrian sports

Even though expectations were exceeded, some sports didn't live up to hopes. Reinebo mentions equestrian sports, athletics, and handball.

The guys in handball had a bad tournament. I had wished that the girls could have wrapped it up. They almost had a silver or gold but blew it.

The eventing does a good competition, better than their ranking. The dressage doesn't. In show jumping, it's a disappointment to only have one in the individual final. I'm not super critical of the team, but they have such capacity. I had expected them to fight for a medal in the team. In equestrian sports, we probably need to take a new approach. In athletics, there were a few too many who were knocked out in the first round.

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By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald
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