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Who can challenge Duplantis for the Bragdguldet?

Today at 13.00, one of Sweden's athletes will be awarded the coveted Bragdguldet. Many have delivered fine performances throughout the year, but who has actually achieved the greatest feat? Here we list three candidates for the award.

» Published: 03 December 2024

Who can challenge Duplantis for the Bragdguldet?
Photo: Jessica Gow/TT

+ Armand Duplantis, pole vault.

The Swedish-American put on a show during the Olympic Games in Paris, for the 80,000 spectators in the arena and for the whole world watching the drama from home. He was the clear favorite beforehand, and he didn't disappoint.

The pole vaulter won his second Olympic gold medal in a dominant manner. To top it all off, he ended a magical evening at Stade de France by breaking his previous world record by one centimeter.

Duplantis received the Bragdguldet in 2020 for his world records during a season where the pandemic cancelled major championships. If the pole vaulter gets it again, he cannot be awarded the distinction more than twice in his career.

+ David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig, beach volleyball.

Before the Olympic Games, beach volleyball wasn't the most hyped program point. But with time, Åhman and Hellvig would get the Swedish people glued to their screens every time they played.

The Swedish duo came to Paris as world number eight and big favorites to take first place. After a tough start, with two losses in the group stage, the duo woke up when it mattered and stormed through the playoffs. In the final, they defeated Germany and the radar pair managed to get their Olympic gold – the first Swedish Olympic medal in beach volleyball.

+ Truls Möregårdh, table tennis.

The hysteria was total when the 22-year-old, already in the second round, managed to knock out world number one Wang Chuqin. Table tennis icon Jan-Ove Waldner described the match as "the biggest upset in Olympic history".

After that, Möregårdh managed to reach the final. It was the first time in 24 years that a Swede was in an Olympic final in table tennis, after Waldner's final in Sydney 2000.

In the final, however, the Chinese player Fan Zhedong was too strong and Möregårdh had to settle for silver.

But the table tennis fever wasn't over after Möregårdh's successes in singles. The team event was waiting, where Anton Källberg and Kristian Karlsson also played.

In the semifinal, things looked bleak for the Swedes. The score was 0–2 in matches against Japan. Then, a heroic turnaround began, and Källberg managed to take home the decisive match to 3–2 in matches for Sweden. In the final, however, an overpowering China awaited and Möregårdh had to settle for his second silver medal from the Olympic Games in Paris.

2000 – Lars Frölander, swimming

2001 – Per Elofsson, cross-country skiing

2002 – Susanne Ljungskog, cycling

2003 – Carolina Klüft, athletics

2004 – Stefan Holm, athletics

2005 – Kajsa Bergqvist, athletics

2006 – Anja Pärson, alpine skiing

2007 – Anja Pärson, alpine skiing

2008 – Jonas Jacobsson, shooting sports (parasport)

2009 – Helena Ekholm, biathlon

2010 – Swedish men's relay team, cross-country skiing (Daniel Richardsson, Johan Olsson, Anders Södergren, Marcus Hellner)

2011 – Therese Alshammar, swimming

2012 – Lisa Nordén, triathlon

2013 – Johan Olsson, cross-country skiing

2014 – Swedish women's relay team, cross-country skiing (Ida Ingemarsdotter, Emma Wikén, Anna Haag, Charlotte Kalla)

2015 – Sarah Sjöström, swimming

2016 – Henrik Stenson, golf

2017 – Sarah Sjöström, swimming

2018 – Hanna Öberg, biathlon

2019 – Tove Alexandersson, orienteering

2020 – Armand Duplantis, athletics

2021 – Swedish show jumping team, equestrian (Malin Baryard Johnsson, Henrik von Eckermann and Peder Fredricson)

2022 – Nils van der Poel, speed skating

2023 – Daniel Ståhl, athletics

Note: An athlete can receive the Bragdguldet a maximum of two times during their career.

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By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

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