Truls Möregårdh is a huge success in the Olympics and has become a big crowd favorite.
But it’s not just because of how he wins his matches.
Now he explains the images that caused many to react.
– I love to show emotions, he says to Aftonbladet.
Not many people saw it coming. Truls Möregårdh is indeed an extremely talented table tennis player, but has not been in the best form this year, and perhaps does not have the experience that many thought was required to go far in an Olympics. He also had a hard time with the draw, but he has exceeded everyone’s expectations.
The explanation for the pictures
When he defeated the superior world number one Wang Chuqin in the second round of the Olympic ping-pong, many called it the biggest shock of the entire Olympics this summer. And since then the success has only continued. He advanced from the third round on speed alone, and on Thursday he defeated the Egyptian Omar Assar with a clear 4-1 in sets, and now the semi-finals await the Swedish star.
There is once again, after many years without a Swedish big star, table tennis fever in Sweden, but it is not only here at home that Möregårdh’s popularity has shot through the roof. Even in the hall in France, he has become a real crowd favorite, and the reason is how much emotion Truls shows. After winning balls, he can turn around and roar at the crowd, and he himself does not like it when opponents show no emotion.
– I think it’s super boring. I love to show emotions. This is sport and I show a lot of emotion because there are many people in the audience. My parents, Malte (brother) and Leah (girlfriend) want me to win. They show a lot of emotion and then it is clear that I will show a lot of emotion in the paddock too, he says to Aftonbladet.
“It helps me”
Truls Möregårdh can sometimes also be seen talking to himself after important balls. And it helps him in his game.
– It looks a bit strange, I try not to do it too much. But it helps me a lot to talk to myself a little bit. It helps me get into the bubble that I like when playing matches. I certainly did in this game and I’ve done it in the other games as well when I’ve had to. I wasn’t there against Kao (round of 16 against Cheng Jui-Kao), so it felt scary. I couldn’t mentally get into that bubble I felt. So I needed to solve it game-wise. I solved this match mentally in the end and in the last set everything just fell apart, says Möregårdh.
But what Möregårdh says to himself is something he does not want to reveal.
– What am I really saying? I say anything possible. You can have a lip interpreter to indicate it.
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