PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Table tennis star Truls Möregårdh made a big success with double silver at the Olympics in Paris.
Now Möregårdh is being noticed on a different level.
The 22-year-old has been assigned Anders Carlberg’s commemorative prize as “Young role model of the year”, which is awarded by Fryshuset.
The justification states, among other things, that Truls Möregårdh “inspired a whole new generation of young people to start playing table tennis; an accessible sport that is open to everyone regardless of background and place of residence”.
– It feels great fun, of course. It feels like it’s not just for the sake of ping-pong, but that you’ve done something right as a person as well. That people like your personality and that you can contribute more than just playing good table tennis, he says.
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Children play Truls
– It’s hard to take in when you hear about children who play ping pong at breaks, who don’t play “King” anymore, but instead play “Truls”. You almost have to see it with your own eyes and once you do, you are very moved.
Even outside of table tennis, Möregårdh is now both a star and a power factor. A responsibility he wants to take care of as much as possible.
– I don’t want to just disappear and reappear at the next Olympics. I think there are many athletes who can do that and don’t care to take advantage of something like an Olympic silver.
– I like to share a lot of my life and show a lot.
READ MORE: Truls Möregårdh names Sweden’s best athletes of all time
Tributes to Gyökeres
Something that has become significant for Möregårdh is his victory gesture, where he goes down on one knee.
But in last week’s World Tour event in Frankfurt, he chose another. Namely the superstar of the national football team Viktor Gyökeres target gesture.
– I think the gesture is crazy cool. But I was a little afraid whether he would appreciate it or not. You shouldn’t just make a victory gesture like that.
READ MORE: Anton Källberg wants to do like Truls Möregårdh and leave Sweden
Fortunately, the Sporting striker gave the thumbs up.
– He has commented on my videos when I did it, and he seems pleased that I drove it. So it was nice that I got an approval from Viktor there as well.
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All award winners:
This year’s influencers: Carin Götblad, Chief of Police at the National Operational Department (Noa)
Revenge of the year: Zecira Musovic, soccer goalkeeper in Chelsea and the Swedish women’s national team
Young role model of the year: Truls Möregårdh, table tennis player
This year’s honorary life achievement award: Gloria Ray Karlmark, civil rights activist and patent engineer
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