Swedish Olympic Committee adds 16 new athletes to Top and Talent support programme
Sixteen summer athletes have been added to the Swedish Olympic Committee’s Top and Talent support program from 1 January.
Each active member of the support program receives tailored and needs-tested support. The purpose is to support in the last step in a venture towards the world’s top. Some active athletes will compete at Paris 2024, but most should be at their best in Los Angeles 2028 or Brisbane 2032.
The athletics quartet Axelina Johansson (shot put), Andreas Almgren (5,000 m), Grete Ahlberg (hammer) and Maja Åskag (long/triple) have all impressed during the season. Axelina and Grete both made it to the finals during the World Champions in Eugene. Andreas Almgren finished fourth in the EC in the 5,000 meters and the talent Maja Åskag has already managed to win double gold in both the Junior WC and the European Youth Olympics.
Canoe slalomer Isak Öhrström has been selected with a view to participating in kayak cross in Paris 2024. Marlena Jawaid finished sixth in the Junior World Championships last year and is in 36th place in this year’s world ranking in modern pentathlon. Jens Fredricson was part of the jumping team that qualified for the Olympics in Tokyo by winning WC team gold last fall. He also finished 10th individually. The 21-year-old road cyclist Julia Borgström has had a fine season and is now ranked 84th in the world.
Two pairs of sailors in the mixed class Nacra 17 will take part in Topp and Talent. Emil Järudd/Hanna Jonsson were seventh at the WC this year and Marcus Dackhammar/Ida Svensson were sixth in the EC last year.
Investment in the future
The triathlon duo Andreas Carlsson (19th EC) and Tilda Månsson (gold in both the junior EC and junior WC) both take place in the support program. Rickard Levin Andersson won an EC silver in the trap in the autumn and thus also a quota place for the Olympics in Paris 2024. The 17-year-old beach volleyball talent Jacob Hölting Nilsson won three medals at the youth SC last year and this year won gold in the U22 EC.
All support is financed by funds from SOK’s partners, such as Svenska Spel and UNIQLO.
