Seven Swedes are in the hunt for a place in the Olympics this summer when the Olympic qualifiers in wrestling start on Friday - a year later than planned due to the pandemic.

The qualifier in Budapest is the first of two remaining opportunities to secure a place in the championship where the blue and yellow duo Alex Kessidis and Henna Johansson have already qualified.

Improved physics

Sofia Mattsson, who took bronze in the 2016 Olympics, has missed out on valuable international sparring and competitions during the year, but she knows that she has improved one thing.

- My physique.

Everything else has been so insecure, with wrestling, sparring and camping.

But you can always develop physics yourself.

I have been able to work on in peace and quiet and really put up a plan and follow it to the letter.

The physical part of wrestling has improved.

"Is an understatement"

To pinch an Olympic place, a final place is required as two places are at stake in each weight class, both now in Budapest and on the second qualifying occasion in Sofia 7-10 May.

- That you expected is an understatement.

It has been a dizzying year to say the least, you have felt upside down about everything from motivation to everything possible.

Now you stand here a year later and can hardly believe it.

Nice that it's time, says Mattsson.

CLIP: Wrestling - one of the losing sports in corona times (November 28):

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Meet some of those who are disappointed not to be able to wrestle Photo: SVT / Carl Bruno Tersmeden