Swedish WC bronze in wrestling: "Longed for this day"

When we reach her on the phone, she apologizes that she may soon have to rush off to the award ceremony. There, she will step onto the podium after a championship that began with a loss.

Jonna Malmgren Sandahl was beaten by the Japanese Moe Kiyooka. But since Kiyooka later made it all the way to the final, Malmgren Sandahl got the chance for requalification, where he won against the Turkish Yetgil Kamal with 4–0.

- When I had lost the first match, I still knew with all probability that I would have to requalify, because she [Kiyooka] was the favorite in the tournament, says Jonna Malmgren Sandahl.

- After all, you can never be sure, so I kept my fingers crossed all day.

It worked out and after the victory against the Turkish, she won the bronze match against the Chinese Jin Zhang with 5–2.

- I knew it would be a match, where she would slap me and try to disrupt my wrestling as much as possible.

- For me, it was about being involved and taking the chances when they appeared. I wouldn't say I did it perfectly, but I think I pulled it off well and capitalized on her mistakes.

At home in the prize cabinet there are already two European Championship golds and one gold in the U23 World Cup. This was the first WC medal at senior level.

- I long for that gold the most, but this is a good start. Now I'm just trying to enjoy this and reflect on how far I've come. You shouldn't forget how far ahead I am after my injury.

A stubborn neck injury persisted for a long time after the Olympics in Paris 2024. Only in January of this year was she able to start competing again and now she stands there with a WC medal in 2026.

Jonna Malmgren Sandahl comes from Hörby and competes for the Helsingborg club Bergania.

In the 62-kilogram class, Johanna Lindborg lost the bronze match against Bilyana Dudova, Bulgaria, with 2–5. Lindborg competes for Helsingborg's Wrestling Team.