This Olympic silver is a sensation

Truls Möregårdh was in the World Championship final already three years ago. So why is the Olympic Games silver such a sensation? Here is the 22-year-old's journey from super talent to Olympic Games medalist.

» Updated: September 29 2024

» Published: August 04 2024

This Olympic silver is a sensation
Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT

The Swedish Table Tennis Association's then-sports manager Mikael Andersson knew what he was talking about in 2019, when a 17-year-old from Hovmantorp was selected for the first time in a Swedish World Championship team.

I think Swedish sports should wake up. He can beat the Chinese, said Andersson about the youngster.

Five years later, the entire table tennis world knows what Truls Möregårdh is capable of in the ping-pong hall.

Sunday's Olympic silver in Paris qualifies as one of Swedish sports' all-time greatest Olympic moments, perhaps above all considering it came so unexpectedly and despite the toughest possible opposition on the way.

Barely made the team

And since it was really a close call that the 22-year-old even made it into the Swedish Olympic team.

It ended up being between Mattias Falck and Truls Möregårdh for a spot. They are the two who have played in a World Championship final – Falck in 2019 and Truls in 2021. So it was a tough task to make the selection, said national team captain Jörgen Persson in connection with the selection.

Truls Möregårdh was born in 2002 in Hovmantorp in the Småland forests between Kalmar and Växjö. He made his debut for Eslöv in the table tennis league at the age of 14 and was quickly named as Swedish table tennis' big future name.

As a 17-year-old, he got to play in the Japanese top league, where the Swede continued to spread his now iconic victory gesture – a tribute to his father Carl.

Talking about iconic. Three years ago, Möregårdh, ranked 77th in the world before the tournament, came to the World Championship in Houston with a completely new racket, not round but with six, seven or eight edges – depending on how you count.

It ended with a sensational silver, after a loss to Fan Zhendong, the same Chinese player who was the final opponent now in the Olympic Games.

New medal chance awaits

Despite the World Championship silver in 2021, the Swede's performance in Paris is astonishing.

The truth is that Möregårdh came to France with low self-confidence and a 26th place in the world rankings. When he was also drawn against the world number one, the Chinese Wang Chuqin, in the second round, he had almost given up in advance.

That he then managed to defeat Wang was such a table tennis bombshell that it would have been enough to declare the Olympic tournament a Truls success. But the 22-year-old has continued to play as if in a trance and, among other things, saved an incredible 21 set balls while creating table tennis fever back home in Sweden.

And the Olympic journey is far from over.

On Monday, the team tournament starts, where Sweden begins against Denmark.

Tags

TTT
By TT - Translated and adapted by Sweden Herald under license from TT

More news

Sweden Takes Sixth in Ice
1 MIN READ

Sweden Takes Sixth in Ice Hockey World Championship After Close Loss

Marcus Kinhult's Birdie Blitz Propels
1 MIN READ

Marcus Kinhult's Birdie Blitz Propels Him Up 39 Spots in Shanghai

AIK's Christoffer Björk Likely Out
1 MIN READ

AIK's Christoffer Björk Likely Out for Season After Knee Injury

Andreas Johansson Named Head Coach
1 MIN READ

Andreas Johansson Named Head Coach of Södertälje Sports Club

Robots Struggle in First Human
1 MIN READ

Robots Struggle in First Human vs. Machine Half-Marathon in Beijing

Casper Ruud Applauds Victor Hedman's
2 MIN READ

Casper Ruud Applauds Victor Hedman's Leadership in Tampa Bay

Miami Secures Playoff Spot with
1 MIN READ

Miami Secures Playoff Spot with Overtime Win Over Atlanta

Ingrid Lindblad Shines with Career-Best
2 MIN READ

Ingrid Lindblad Shines with Career-Best Round at LPGA in Los Angeles

Gyökeres Hat-Trick Secures Sporting Lisbon's
1 MIN READ

Gyökeres Hat-Trick Secures Sporting Lisbon's Lead Over Moreirense

Elias Pettersson Urged to Improve
2 MIN READ

Elias Pettersson Urged to Improve Training by Canucks Coach Tocchet

Swedish Beach Volleyball Duo Exits
1 MIN READ

Swedish Beach Volleyball Duo Exits World Championship in Brazil

Djurgården's Grewe Criticizes AIK Forward
2 MIN READ

Djurgården's Grewe Criticizes AIK Forward for Alleged Spearing Incident

Mjällby Defeats Hammarby 3-1, Ending
2 MIN READ

Mjällby Defeats Hammarby 3-1, Ending Winning Streak

Malmö FF Held to Draw
2 MIN READ

Malmö FF Held to Draw by Sirius: "Supporters Deserve Better"

Teen Talent Olivia Ulenius Propels
1 MIN READ

Teen Talent Olivia Ulenius Propels Djurgården to League Summit

Lin Shidong Defeats Möregårdh in
1 MIN READ

Lin Shidong Defeats Möregårdh in Thrilling World Cup Quarterfinals

Brynäs Eyes Historic Triumph in
3 MIN READ

Brynäs Eyes Historic Triumph in National Championship Finals

Djurgården Triumphs to Semifinals Despite
1 MIN READ

Djurgården Triumphs to Semifinals Despite Key Injuries

Chelsea Eyes Champions League Revenge
3 MIN READ

Chelsea Eyes Champions League Revenge Against Barcelona

Rangers End Season with 4-0
1 MIN READ

Rangers End Season with 4-0 Victory Over Lightning

Calle Halfvarsson Parts Ways with
2 MIN READ

Calle Halfvarsson Parts Ways with National Ski Team After 14 Years

Sagström Tied for Fourth After
1 MIN READ

Sagström Tied for Fourth After Hole-in-One at LPGA Los Angeles

Ellen Wangerheim Eyes European Championship
3 MIN READ

Ellen Wangerheim Eyes European Championship After Stellar Season Start

Ludvig Åberg Struggles in South
2 MIN READ

Ludvig Åberg Struggles in South Carolina After US Masters Challenge

Djurgården Secures Semifinal Spot Against
2 MIN READ

Djurgården Secures Semifinal Spot Against Chelsea in Conference League

Filip Forsberg Set for Home
1 MIN READ

Filip Forsberg Set for Home World Championship with Sweden

Tottenham Advances to Europa League
1 MIN READ

Tottenham Advances to Europa League Semifinals with Win Over Frankfurt

Sweden Edges Finland 2-1 in
2 MIN READ

Sweden Edges Finland 2-1 in World Championship Warm-Up

Olympic Champion Ahmed Hafnaoui Receives
1 MIN READ

Olympic Champion Ahmed Hafnaoui Receives 21-Month Doping Ban

Scottie Scheffler Doubts Rangefinders Will
2 MIN READ

Scottie Scheffler Doubts Rangefinders Will Speed Up Golf Rounds

Tove Alexandersson Criticizes Media for
2 MIN READ

Tove Alexandersson Criticizes Media for Misinterpreting Her Views

Hockeyallsvenskan Enforces Rule to Protect
3 MIN READ

Hockeyallsvenskan Enforces Rule to Protect Referees During Finals

Virgil van Dijk Signs Two-Year
1 MIN READ

Virgil van Dijk Signs Two-Year Extension with Liverpool

Sweden Exits World Championship After
2 MIN READ

Sweden Exits World Championship After Controversial Loss to Finland

Alexander Straus to Coach Celebrity-Backed
1 MIN READ

Alexander Straus to Coach Celebrity-Backed Angel City FC

Daniel Hermansson Named Skellefteå AIK's
1 MIN READ

Daniel Hermansson Named Skellefteå AIK's New Head Coach