PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Daniel Ståhl is today a celebrated WC gold hero.
He also never forgets the phone call as an 18-year-old.
When icon Ricky Bruch called to say a few well-chosen words.
WC gold, Olympic gold and WC gold – that’s what the discus thrower says Daniel Ståhls impressive track record. With three gold medals at international championships, the 30-year-old is now in history as Sweden’s leading track and field athlete of all time.
Ståhl’s record
Only Carolina Klüft has won more gold medals at the Olympics and WC outdoors. Ståhl made a big breakthrough in 2017 when he won WC silver and broke a new Swedish record in the same year.
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The icon Ricky Bruch’s old records in the discus had stood for a full 33 years before the “Man of Steel” erased it with 71.29 meters. It was the first milestone in Daniel Ståhl’s fantastic career and of course it was special to beat Bruch in particular.
– It is clear that it is big. It’s a legendary old record and I’ve always wanted to beat it, said Ståhl in an interview with Expressen.
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Bruch called
Ståhl also reveals that Bruch actually contacted him only shortly before his passing in 2011. At the time, Daniel was only 18 years old and in high school when he heard the respectful words from the idol.
– He called me three weeks before he died. He said he thought I was a talent and that I had potential. He has meant a lot to me, said Ståhl.
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In connection with his breaking the Swedish record in 2017, Daniel Ståhl also promised that he was aiming for the world record. It has stood ever since 1986 and reads as much as 74.08 meters.
– I have felt for a long time that I have 70 meters in my body. Now I have done this, now I will climb even higher on the mountain and throw even further in the future, he said.
– Then I’ll beat the world record before I retire.
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In 2023, Daniel Ståhl still has a bit to go to the world record and has so far thrown 71.86 meters which is the longest in his career.
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