PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Jan-Ove Waldner had just had a playhouse with the entire world elite.
And won WC gold in 1997 without losing a single set in seven matches.
Then he gave the most eloquent answer to a foreign journalist after the historic triumph.
He really is a rarely seen ball genius, the good one Jan-Ove Waldner. Born with a truly unique talent, he charmed everyone and dominated table tennis for many years.
Icon Waldner
JO is truly one of our greatest, Swedish sports heroes of all time and can show off an absolutely unparalleled track record from his successful career. The Swede was most instrumental in bringing down the Great Wall of China and is still a super celebrity in China to this day.
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Waldner won Olympic gold, six World Cup gold, eleven European Championship gold, the World Cup twice and collected a total of 37 major championship medals. During an era where Swedish table tennis flourished with several talented players, he was the big fix star with the cocky attitude.
READ MORE: JO Waldner was a super talent in a completely different sport – that’s why he finally chose table tennis: “It got too boring…”
Historical gold
According to many, his greatest moment in his career is the 1997 World Cup in Manchester. When Jan-Ove Waldner went through an entire championship without losing a single set and had complete playhouse with the world elite.
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The Swedish superstar was completely superior and won the WC gold after 21-0 in seven straight matches and was hailed to the skies as the world’s best. But even after the match, he managed to keep both his cool and cockiness until the victory interview.
READ MORE: Jan-Ove Waldner reveals his great childhood idol – who is one of Swedish sports’ foremost
The answer from JO
Because when a foreign journalist asked if JO could describe his skill, the most eloquent answer came from the Swede.
– 99 percent talent, 1 percent hard work, Waldner said raptly and without moving an eye.
Jan-Ove Waldner also received a question from the Swedish media on site in England during the historic World Cup triumph in 1997. When the question was asked if he was starting to feel old and would turn 32 soon.
– Every morning. Then I’m probably forty, but in the evenings I’m younger. I hang out with my friends in the national team all day, it keeps me young, he told the newspaper Expressen.
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