In an interview with TT last week, World Championship fourth-place finisher Vanessa Kamga told us that she would focus on getting more sponsors in the coming months.
That's what I really hope for in 2026 - to get more sponsors and people who engage in my athletics endeavor and my social sustainability project, she said then.
Investment towards the Olympic Games
Christer Gardell already sponsors a number of Swedish sports stars, the Swedish Basketball Association - and wants to invest 100 million kronor in the Swedish Tennis Association.
Now he is also sponsoring Kamga so that she can focus on her discus career towards the Olympic Games 2028 and on her social project for teenage girls between 13 and 17 years old.
"Vanessa is one of our foremost female athletes, a great personality and an excellent role model for many young people. In addition, Vanessa has taken a major and important commitment in socially vulnerable areas through Kamga Power, which aims to strengthen self-esteem and confidence in girls in these areas", Gardell writes in a message to TT.
"I really look forward to being part of Vanessa's journey towards a medal at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028”.
"Significant amounts"
Neither Gardell nor Kamga wants to tell how much money Kamga gets, but both use the words "significant amounts".
It's so cool that he's someone who breaks down barriers for others to be able to invest and it's fantastic that he wants to make Swedish sports better. It means a lot to me in my athletic endeavor to get this support and that there are people who want to be part of and support my journey, says Kamga.
Other individual athletes that Gardell sponsors are cross-country skiers Jonna Sundling, Emma Ribom, Edvin Anger and William Poromaa, alpine speed skier Felix Monsén, judoka Tara Babulfath, beach volleyball players David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig and the young tennis talent Vega Bontin.
