Nothing could stop Håkan Carlqvist.
Carla jumped on the bike even though he broke two ribs and had a displaced vertebra in his back.
It gave him a long-awaited World Cup title.
Håkan Carla Carlqvist was like no other. He was the player who personified the word winning skull, and who never gave up no matter what came his way. Few athletes in Swedish history have been as injury prone as Carla, but there was nothing that stopped him.
Never give up
Håkan Carlqvist became an instant crowd favorite with everyone in Sweden, with his showy attitude and his delightful personality. Carlqvist is best known as the motocross rider who allowed himself to stay with the crowd and taste a beer before riding to the finish line. Carla always offered that little extra, and he happened to be a fan of his sport as well.
In the early 80s, Håkan Carlqvist became the first motorcyclist to receive the Bragdguldet since Ove Fundin received it in 1961. Håkan Carlqvist received the Bragdguldet after winning the WC title in the 500cc class. And the way he won it was nothing short of heroic. Carla always struggled with injuries, and that season was certainly no exception. Rather the opposite.
READ MORE: When Håkan “Carla” Carlqvist bit the bullet and ran a WC race – with a broken foot(!): “They had to saw the boot open”
“It hurt like hell”
During a competition in France, Carlqvist fell so badly that he broke two ribs and suffered a dislocation of vertebrae in his back. Many had probably given up then, but Carlqvist knew he needed the WC points. He took the overall victory by an eight-point margin, so the twelve points he picked up – by driving with broken ribs – proved to be quite important.
And that’s how he was, Carla. And he never doubted whether it was worth it.
– I knew I could rest two weeks after that and took the chance. And I did the right thing, even if at the time it hurt like hell. But I didn’t think about that when I opened the victory champagne in Holland with the World Championship cup in hand after an eight-point victory, he said when he was awarded the Golden Achievement.
He then continued:
– It was the greatest moment of my life, including this one with the Bragdguldet.
READ MORE: When a forest-crazy Carla lost it completely during a training session – and buried(!) her own hoy: “Panicted!”