The beach volleyball duo Åhman and Hellvig played out their German final opponents late on Saturday evening so thoroughly that even King Carl XVI Gustaf couldn't sit still in the stands. When the song "Monster Block" thundered from the speakers at Stade de Eiffel – after yet another superior block from Jonatan Hellvig – the king joined in on the choreography.
Hahaha, that was brutal, says David Åhman when he sees the picture of Sweden's monarch.
He's welcome to come and block at our practices.
The match was over in a flash. After just 34 minutes and two superior set wins, the Swedes had secured the Olympic gold.
It's completely crazy. We play so incredibly well in the final and make our best match in the tournament. In the most important match, says Åhman.
When the match ball went in, he fell flat on his face in the sand. Jonatan Hellvig screamed "Yes!" into the nearest TV camera. Somewhere there was also a warm hug between two newly crowned Olympic champions.
Then the memories are blurry.
Remember Nothing
You had held such focus during the match and didn't dare let in any feelings, like "now we're close to gold". So when we hit the last ball and it lands in the sand, it gets blank, says David Åhman.
What happened then?
It's hard. It went so incredibly fast. And now we've been whisked around here at the prize ceremony and interviews. We still have doping tests left. I don't even know what time it is, says Jonatan Hellvig.
It's completely crazy and unreal. We've had this as a dream for a very long time. But it still feels completely unreal.
Not even on the podium, when "Du gamla, du fria" filled the warm Paris air, had it sunk in.
It's such a sick feeling to stand there with the medal. I just ended up in another world and didn't know where I was, says Åhman.
Doubtful about the European Championship
But the gold medals are real and hang around the necks of Sweden's new beach volleyball darlings.
In a few days, the European Championship begins. They have a gold to defend there, but will likely opt out. They need a break, and not least: time to celebrate the biggest achievement of their careers.
I don't know what the plan is, but we heard there are plans. So we're prepared for anything, says Hellvig.
First, it's about drinking a lot. Drinking water! I don't think alcohol is the best before doping control, says Åhman.
