Junior EC Sweden’s best in Jerusalem: “Proud of team’s achievements”

10 August 2023 | 6:58 | PHILIP LÖÖV

Sweden’s result during the U20 EC was a magical five golds and two silvers, the best championship of all time. Sweden finished second in the medal league, beating only Germany.

Medals rained down on Swedish track and field athletes in Jerusalem and the blue-and-yellow effort was historically strong.

The U20 EC has existed in its current form since 1970, and between 1964 and 1968 the championship went under the name “European Junior Games”. Sweden has never won more than three golds in a single championship and now has a total of five golds and two silvers.

– We finished second in the medal league, but I believe we won the national competition with joy and team spirit. I am incredibly proud of the team’s achievements. It’s even among the best, so I’m sure it’s the team spirit and the positive energy we create together, which means there’s a little extra spark that keeps it going, says national team captain Michael Wennolf.

He continues:

– I would also like to highlight the leadership and medical team, what stars they are. Efficient, professional and courteous, while always having the best interests of active people in mind. It creates security and harmony, which means that active people can focus on the right things, and then the results will be good.

The previous record for the number of golds was set at the 2021 championships in Tallinn. And with a total of seven medals in Jerusalem, the record for the total number of medals from Tampere was also broken in 2003.

Even in terms of points, Sweden has had its best championship, that is, when you include all the active players in the top eight. In 2015, when matches were decided in Eskilstuna, Sweden, 76 points were collected, compared to 82 points in Jerusalem.

If you look at all the junior and youth championships, there is no previous championship where Sweden has won five gold medals. And to find a medal tally at the EC for seniors that exceeds the number of golds in Jerusalem, you have to go back to Oslo 1946, where Sweden won nine golds.

In the medal league, Sweden finished second behind Germany with eight gold, eight silver and seven bronze. The Czech Republic placed itself just behind Sweden with three golds and a total of eight medals. Big countries like France, Poland and Great Britain are nowhere near Sweden in terms of gold.

Here You can find all the results of U20 EC in Jerusalem.