Daniel Ståhl won WC gold in the most dramatic way.
It has led to a love attack from the Swedish people.
– I can hardly go to Ica, he says.
Daniel Ståhl was the clear favorite in the discus when the Finnkampen was decided this weekend. Ståhl also got a great throw around 70 meters, but to the great disappointment of the crowd at Stockholm Stadium, it was an overstep that very time. However, Ståhl won the competition in 66.44 and gave Sweden maximum points.
The words about the Swedish people
Ståhl has long been one of Sweden’s most popular and charismatic athletes. But the WC gold during the summer has caused his popularity to increase significantly. Ståhl won the gold in the most dramatic way possible, with a monster throw that was the last thing to happen in the entire competition. Afterwards, he has been praised enormously – and he is the super favorite to win the Bragdguldet later in the year.
When Daniel Ståhl was back in Stockholm for the Finnkampen, it was his first competition at home since the WC gold. And Ståhl notices a big difference in the Swedish people compared to before.
– It has been a magical welcome and everyone is cheering in the streets. You get stopped everywhere, you can hardly go to Ica and shop anymore, he tells Aftonbladet.
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The tribute to Finnkampen
Finnkampen has received some criticism in recent times, as many believe that it has lost its status and charm. But Daniel Ståhl disagrees.
– Finnkamppen is extremely important. It’s fun to fight the Finns. Not just in discus, but in all events. It’s like a team championship in national team clothes. People come all the way from Finland to cheer on their fellow citizens and Swedes come from all sorts of farms and villages and towns. So it’s asbra, he says.
Daniel Ståhl still hasn’t let go of what happened during that magical discus final in Budapest. He believes that it was difficult to reload after that.
– It’s like a complete mental discharge after that last throw. It is unimaginable with 71.46 when there is no wind and a packed arena in Budapest. It was a magical evening and you always lose a little mental focus after a championship.
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