Since 2010, Retriever, in collaboration with TT, has conducted an annual survey on Sweden's most rewritten sports profiles. The top list of 20 people has been male dominated. Until this year.

For the first time ever, a woman, skiing star Charlotte Kalla, tops the list. In addition, for the first time, there are more women than men in the top-20.

- Of course, I get incredibly happy, but also surprised. If I think back to last season, it did not go straight and I did not have the greatest successes. I hadn't expected this. It's incredibly flattering to see, says Charlotte Kalla.

Relay gold highlight

The successful 32-year-old, who has won three Olympic golds and three World Cup golds, has been one of the country's most public sports stars for the past nine years. The 2018-2019 season, however, was not as she had envisaged with an eleventh place in the overall World Cup and without individual medal at the World Championships in Seefeld, Austria, last winter.

- It is probably both in co-operation and in adversity that it interests the Swedish people to read about us. My last year was such a year. It went very well in the beginning and then I did not have the trip to the World Cup that I had hoped for, but it was quite courageous and a lot of uncertainty, says Kalla and continues:

- It shows that we elite athletes are also human. The success it was with the World Cup gold in the Swedish women's team (relay). That we finally got to beat Norway and that way, it was really great and really the highlight of the season.

Ibrahimovic has dominated

The media analysis company Retriever's list is usually characterized by the great sports championships of the year - and has been dominated by men's football profiles. Attack star Zlatan Ibrahimovic topped the list eight years in a row (2010–2017) before the national team captain Janne Andersson took over the top spot last year after a successful Men's World Cup in Russia.

The fact that this year the football ladies have taken over is remarkable - but not particularly unexpected. During the World Cup in France, Sweden made great success and took bronze. Six of the players, plus team captain Peter Gerhardsson, are in the top-20 of the year. Also all four of the women's relay teams that took the World Cup gold in Seefeld are also included.

-When I let it sink in, I look at it for women's sport in general. And as a really big recognition, women's sports touch. There is so much written about women's athletes that for the first time, a woman is at the top of the list. I think we as role models are very important to both inspire and engage children and young people, ”says Charlotte Kalla.

"Women's Year"

Compared to last year's list, when Kalla was third, there are three times as many women (4 instead of 12) and half as many men (8 instead of 16) in the top-20.

During the period October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019, when the survey was conducted, Kalla is mentioned in 15,904 articles. Just before last year's one Janne Andersson on 15 062.

- It's been women's years. The football ladies have become very medial, we see that even if we look at interactions and engagement on social media. And if you look at one like Nilla Fischer, she has gone from being mentioned in 3,000 articles to 10,000 articles. She was rewritten in the past as well, but this has been extreme, says Jenny Wikstrand, media analyst at Retriever.