PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Ingemar Stenmark is one of two who are Swedish sports’ greatest ever.
The other is called Björn Borg and it is difficult to choose between the duo.
But there is an immense respect and gratitude between both giants, “Stenis” reveals.
the tale of Ingemar Stenmark we all know by now. The unique slalom skier from small Tärnaby who would conquer the world completely in his own way and write himself into the history books forever.
Stenmark icon
Sweden stood still when he went and even the Riksdag was interrupted when Stenmark competed. He is one of Swedish sports’ greatest legends and with two Olympic golds, five World Cup golds and a mighty 86 World Cup victories, he dominated alpine skiing in the 70s and 80s.
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The image of “Stenis” was painted as the perfect athlete who lived for his sport and never did anything wrong or scandals. He himself admits that it was difficult to live up to those expectations of him.
– It was written very positively, almost too positively, and I felt it was difficult to live up to that. Maybe I wasn’t that person, I didn’t recognize myself in what was written. But then they didn’t want to destroy that image, says Ingemar in an interview with TT.
– I think that it is upbringing and upbringing that reflect what kind of person you are. Then there were never any big occasions for partying. After all, we were up on glaciers and training, and then there wasn’t much choice there. And in the summers I was in “Tärna” (Tärnaby).
READ MORE: Ingemar Stenmark gives Zlatan Ibrahimovic the most powerful of powerful tributes: “He is…”
Want to thank Borg
Few other Swedish athletes had been as famous and popular as Stenmark before. Or, well, there was one more by name Björn Borg who was equally successful with his tennis rack.
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Today, Ingemar Stenmark can feel great gratitude towards Borg, who got to take the biggest hits in the media. Above all, the much talked about move to Monaco where the tennis star was singled out as a “tax fugitive” when he left Sweden.
– I was lucky that Borg was a little ahead of me, so he got the worst of it. When he moved to Monaco, he received huge criticism, while I moved a few years later and had no problems at all, Stenmark told the news agency.
READ MORE: Björn Borg’s honest confession about his son Leo Borg – that’s why the icon didn’t want him to play tennis
Only at the end of his career did Stenis become a professional and was able to make a living from the sport. But it’s so far from what the biggest sports stars earn these days, although Stenmark still wouldn’t have wanted to switch places with today’s elite skaters.
– Slalom skiers must now be available at all times, on social media and interviewed before and between runs. It wouldn’t have suited me, says the icon in the interview.
Who do you think is the greatest of Ingemar Stenmark and Björn Borg? Share the article and have your say!