A silver and two bronzes were Sweden's result in the Paralympic Games 2024. So few medals have not been achieved for Sweden in a summer game since 1964.
On Monday afternoon, the Swedish team landed at Arlanda for a smaller medal celebration, and afterwards, team leader Niclas Grön states that the future holds many challenges.
Without financing, we will maintain this level. It will not get better overall. And it will not hold. Then we will sink more and more and get a smaller and smaller team, says Niclas Grön.
Has worked part-time
Three medals are five fewer than in Tokyo 2021. And as a further comparison, Sweden took a total of 21 medals in the Paralympic Games in Athens 20 years ago.
Looking only at the three medalists in Paris – Anna Benson (shooting), Nicolina Pernheim Goodrich (judo), and Anna Beck (cycling) – none are sure to continue towards Los Angeles 2028.
If I didn't get support, it would be directly impossible to continue, says Beck, who took bronze in the time trial.
Both Beck and Benson have worked part-time towards Paris 2024. But it actually requires a full-time commitment to be able to compete at the top level, says Benson, who took silver in 50-meter rifle prone.
If you're going to do this on 50 percent, then it becomes silver. But if I'm going to be able to take the next step, I would need to do it full-time. Everything depends on whether I can make it financially.
Further away from the top
On behalf of the government, the Centre for Sports Research (CIF) analyzed the sports movement's conditions for conducting a competitive and sustainable elite sports operation last year. CIF's conclusion is that the path to the top will become increasingly difficult for Swedish athletes, not least for resource-poor sports like parasport.
It's incredibly difficult for us, as we compete against full-time professionals. And they can live on their sport and don't live on a minimum existence, they have it good, if you say so. They can really live on this for many years, says Benson.
Summer Games:
Paris 2024: 3 medals (0 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze).
Tokyo 2021: 8 (1–5–2).
Rio de Janeiro 2016: 10 (1–4–5).
London 2012: 12 (4–4–4).
Beijing 2008: 12 (5–3–4).
Athens 2004: 21 (8–7–6).
Sydney 2000: 21 (5–6–10).
Winter Games:
Beijing 2022: 7 (2–2–3).
Pyeongchang 2018: 1 (0–1–0).
Sochi 2014: 4 (1–2–1).
Vancouver 2010: 2 (0–0–2).
Turin 2006: 1 (0–0–1).
Salt Lake City 2002: 9 (0–6–3).
