PHOTO: Bildbyrån
He is one of Swedish sports’ greatest heroes.
We never forget the legendary Håkan “Carla” Carlqvist’s achievements.
Especially when he settled with Ingemar Stenmark himself in an absolutely incredible duel.
There are few Swedish sports heroes with such cult status as Håkan Carlqvist. He was a truly extraordinary motocross rider and with a unique personality that went straight into everyone’s hearts.
Carla’s success
He was a giant in the 70s and 80s when he became “Carla” with the entire Swedish people. The big highlights from his career on two wheels were of course the WC gold in motocross in 1979 and 1983.
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After the last WC gold, he went up in competition with himself Ingemar Stenmark in the fight for the coveted Bragdguldet at the Sports Gala in 1983. In the end it was only between Carla and “Stenis” and then the motor icon managed to snuff out the alpine sovereign.
Duel against Stenis
13 years later they would meet again in an unforgettable duel. When TV3’s acclaimed competition program “Superstars” gathered a bunch of Sweden’s top athletes to compete against each other in various challenges, Carlqvist and Stenmark stole the whole show.
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Despite the fact that both ended their careers long before and were in the fall of their age already then, there was no talk of which two settled for the final victory.
– You thought about some of the big names who were there: “What the hell are they doing here?” Honestly! Imagine if I had been 23 years old and at the peak of my sports career… And then a 40-year-old man comes and puts one in place. Nah, nah. It wouldn’t happen, then. Then you get in a bad mood, said Håkan himself about the competition program.
The icon’s revenge
In the end, it was Ingemar Stenmark who got his revenge for the missed Bragdguldet 13 years earlier and had to lick his wounds by winning Superstars in 1996. The fact that it was against Carla in particular he must have enjoyed extra.
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Håkan Carlqvist tragically passed away in 2017, just 63 years old. But we must never forget what he did for Swedish motorsport.
– You have to remember that he was very much in love with the Swedish people when he was active. Everyone knew who “Carla” was, because he was always straight. I think he won many hearts through that, says the friend, and former colleague, Henry Romlin to Expressen.
– It is someone you should honor, today people hardly know who it is. He has actually been a great role model for the generation that came after him. He should really be celebrated for the fantastic person and sportsman he was.
Surely Stenmark and Carlqvist are two of our greatest ever? Share the article and have your say!
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