Andreas Jonsson: "The damage has taken over"

Seven-time individual Swedish champion. Triple World Cup gold with the Swedish national team and an individual World Cup silver. Add nine GP wins, four golds with the Rospiggarna and one with the Dackarna. Andreas Jonsson's track record can be written longer than that. When the 38-year-old last Friday ran his last race in the Polish league, it was also the last of his career.

- The damage has taken over a litigious neighbor. I had a bet on getting back to the GP this year but went on a bang first series match in Poland. It was tough to come back after that. I have struggled all season with sore throat, back pain and bleeding in my arms, says Andreas Jonsson.

That speedway is a tough, yes, purely life-threatening sport has never worried. him.

- During my career I have tried to put it aside and not focus at all on the crashes and accidents that have been. But just when it has come up, when people have been seriously injured and even perished. Then it is clear that it sits a little in the back of the head. But you try to replace it when you put on your helmet.

But when the decision was made that this season would be the last one, a little worried seed was sown.

- Then it started spinning a little in the head. I thought, now you have to watch out for this is a risky sport and you do not want to go bang on the last thing you do.

Right now the idea is to take a break from the sport. But he does not rule out coming back to the speedway oval in any role in the future.

- I have been driving the speedway since I was thirteen and need a break. In a few years you might want to come back and do something.

Even though he now leaves the sport he has spent his last 25 years, his body will always remind him of it.

- Many mornings when you get out of bed you can feel some bangs. I will never be 100 percent restored. I will have some cramps and pain. But as long as I keep on doing some exercises for the body, I know I'm fine.