The former high jumper, who ended his career due to mental illness, reacts strongly to the arguments put forward by SOK regarding Berglund's lack of support.
- I have no problem with people losing their support if you don't perform.
However, the arguments in Kalle's case are not correct.
If you look over a longer period of three years that is being talked about, Kalle is in the allsvenskan, while another athlete who received support belongs in division 5. So it is a factual error on the SOK's part, says Thörnblad.
Relinquished SOK support this year
Berglund was selected in the SOK's Top and Talent group in 2020 after setting a Swedish record in the 1500 meters with 3.33.70 at the WC final in Doha 2019. After a failure in 2021 where he competed at the Olympics in Tokyo after all and did not at all did himself justice, he decided to take this year as a gap year and renounced the SOK support.
During the past season, he lined up in a couple of races - mostly to keep things going.
Now that Berglund is set on investing further towards the WC year 2023, however, SOK is closing the door on support.
- Taking a break after an Olympic year sounds healthy and should be something that is rewarded.
The problem may be that more people don't dare to take a break to recharge mentally in order to make an investment over a period of four years, says Thörnblad.
"Sad that we didn't get further"
Thörnblad was among the first sportsmen to come out openly and talk about mental illness just over ten years ago.
- It is sad that we have not come further.
Apparently we haven't gotten any further since I left because they didn't follow up and that's really sad to hear.
In a month, Thörnblad will be a fully trained firefighter.
He has lectured on mental illness for the past seven years.
Thörnblad, 37, was a contemporary of Olympic champion Stefan Holm and took a bronze at the indoor WC in 2006 and was fifth at the outdoor WC in 2009. He jumped 2.34 as the best outdoors and 2.38 indoors.
SOK has been offered to comment on Thörnblad's criticism.