Photo: Bildbyrån
He made himself known as one of Sweden’s best cross -country skiers – but obviously he could also wrestle.
16 years after he won the champion’s champion, Per Elofsson now reveals that he actually got down Olympic and World Cup wrestler Ara Abrahamian on the ground.
“So I have 1-0 against him,” he tells the Sports Bible.
SVT’s major production The Master of the Masters is in the 17th season and this year it is among other things Charlotte KallaThe Johan Elmander and Nilla Fischer that makes up for the honorable title. Just as usual it is Micke Leijnegard Who leads the program, which he has done ever since its inception in 2009.
Per Elofsson won the champions champion
The first season became a viewing success fairly immediately. Swedish sports legends Thomas WassbergThe Anders GärderudThe Emma IgelströmThe Susanne GunnarssonThe Peter “Peja” LindholmThe Per “Pelle” FosshaugThe Ara AbrahamianThe Malin MoströmThe Emelie ÖhrstigThe Erica Johansson and Per Elofsson they were selected for the pilot project. The latter, then only 31 years old, was the one who eventually won the final.
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– Oh, it was a while ago. But I remember … We were, as I said, the first program and it was like a little test if this format would work. I know we were there for quite some time and we were there a bit in the fall, so it was quite cold and raw there in Spain that we were in. Andalusia I think. But it was a great experience to meet all the personalities and hear their life stories. And that you went all the way. That it was me and Malin Moström, who are both Umeå residents, who had to be in the final was extra fun, says Per Elofsson to the Sports Bible.
Tougher than Per Elofsson thought
He says that neither he nor the other participants were prepared for it to be such tough competitions. He was still very young when it was recorded, but for example Thomas Wassberg and Anders Gärderud it was another five.
– A lot of exercises required that you were not too untrained. And especially if you start to get older, you understand that an obstacle course … You are not 20 years directly. It is clear that it is demanding, says Elofsson.
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But did you know when you signed the contracts and before it started to record what would happen and what you gave in to?
– No, you didn’t know that. We knew a little rough format, but definitely not what competitions and in what way. I think it was almost a shock to everyone that it was that way. I thought maybe it was more like play competitions, but it was kind of these atlas balls that you would go up for a long hill with. That was the body weight. And the girls got a percentage. I don’t know if it was 50 percent of their body weight. Obviously it will be a damn stress.
Still get questions about the champions champions
Today Per Elofsson, 47, works at the airport in Umeå and he meets many people every day. He says that he is still recognized very often and people come forward and ask questions or tell about memories they have with him.
Are there still people talking to you about this even today? That you won the first season of the champion’s champion.
– Yes, but it happens. It actually does. Especially now that I work in such a public place as an airport. So sometimes when you are in the safety review, it is people who stop and have to sour a little about everything possible. Almost every day, there are people who take back and should buzz a little neighbor and have some kind of memory. It is incredible that people still have an image of one in some way.
Wrestled down Ara Abrahamian
Before the interview with the Sports Bible is over, Elofsson is asked about a memory from the recording that has not previously reached the public. He then reveals that he actually- even though it sounds incredible- got down Olympic and World Cup wrestler Ara Abrahamian on the ground. However, it was not quite nice “competition conditions”.
– It was sometime. You know that both Ara Abrahamian and “Pelle” Fosshaug were there? We would, especially “Pelle”, wrestle with ARA, but it was at some point that Ara was a bit … He was focusing on something else. Then I came from behind and took around my neck and broke him down. Then I spoke from there. So I have 1-0 against him anyway.
He has never heard and wanted to have revenge?
– I know how it would end, so you have to be glad that you happen to be in a way deceive a win.
The champion’s champion is one of the best TV programs broadcast over the past 20 years. Do you hold more about it? Please leave a comment and share your opinion. Share and like-mark the article.
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