Ebba Andersson was the big winner at the Sports Gala.
When she became the people’s choice and won the prestigious Jerring Prize.
But now harsh criticism is being directed at the fact that she won the big award.
It was at the Sports Gala Daniel Ståhl, Armand Duplantis and Sarah Sjostrom who won the heavy prizes. The Swedish skiing star Ebba Andersson who became WC queen with double gold medals was not even nominated in any of the usual award categories.
Andersson winner
But when it came time for the heaviest prize of them all – namely the Jerring Prize – the Swedish people agreed. Andersson won by far before the nearest challenger Duplantis and the emotions were so beautiful when a shocked Ebba had to receive all the tributes via video link.
The article continues after the picture.
Over a week has passed since then and there still seem to be those who cannot understand why Ebba Andersson was presented with the prestigious award.
“How on earth (avoiding profanity) could Ebba Andersson get the Jerring prize? Which, according to the statutes, “is awarded to a successful Swedish athlete for the best Swedish sports performance of the year”, writes the former journalist Håkan Malmström in his blog.
The Swedes’ fault
Both Duplantis and Ståhl should have deserved the Jerring prize more, according to the critics.
“She (Ebba) certainly won World Cup gold, but it was in a sport that has no international reach due to its dependence on the weather. Which also has a lot of different distances and differentiated styles,” writes the blogger.
“Armand Duplantis took WC gold in the pole vault and also took the opportunity to break the world record. That sport requires some material conditions, but can be practiced all over the world. Daniel Ståhl took WC gold in the discus by getting a result in the last throw that no one had previously achieved in a championship competition”.
The article continues after the picture.
Malmström takes it so far that he questions the entire Swedish people. And that it is not possible to trust Swedes in polls, which he compares to both the right-wing traffic and nuclear power polls.
“How could it happen like that? Yes, because the Swedish people are generally not sports-savvy. Yet everyone has the right to vote. Now it is the case that the vote is taking place in the middle of bitterly cold winter. Since skiing has a dominant place in the television selection. We are forced to see Ebba Andersson and the other long-distance runners three days a week and everyone is interviewed, even if they ended up in 49th place. The exposure is total and it affects people,” writes Håkan in his criticism.
Ebba Andersson became the first skier since Charlotte Kalla in 2008 to receive the Jerring Prize.
Who do you think deserved to win the Jerring Prize? Share the article and have your say!
READ MORE: Jacob Hård’s beautiful words about Ebba Andersson reveal why she won the Jerring Prize before Armand Duplantis
Sign up for our newsletter
Share