The Swedish women's national team's 13 EC medals pale in comparison to the men's three Olympic medals, 40 WC medals and 80 EC medals.
That the merit list looks the way it does has several explanations, according to the women's national team's Linda Bergström and Stina Källberg.
- Perhaps a lot is about tradition, that if one's teammate can do it, I can do it too.
That if there are medalists within the team, it is easier to see yourself in that position, says Linda Bergström.
"Going a different way"
Stina Källberg, who just like her brother Anton Källberg is a professional abroad, points out that the economic factor can play a role.
- If I compare with my brother like that, he earns more than ten times as much as I do.
I think it is very much the case that many girls feel that they cannot quite cope with sports and choose to go a different way.
According to national team captain Tobias Bergman, the Swedish talent pool is also smaller on the women's side than on the men's side.
- 10-11 percent of all table tennis players in Sweden are women, so our sample is low, he says.
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Källberg: "My brother earns ten times more than me"
Want to come home with a medal
On August 13–21, the EC will be decided in Munich.
Then the Swedes hope to increase their results.
- We hope that we will come home with a medal.
That is the goal in the squad and we have good chances in both singles and doubles, says Bergström.