From Olympic Setback to EC Glory: World Champion Mattias Falck’s Journey to Gold in Ping-Pong

Since only three of the four men’s ping pong men were allowed to play in the Olympics, a delicate situation arose.

Anton Källberg took a place as the highest ranked Swede.

The lowest ranked, Kristian Karlsson, sneaked in via the mixed tournament where he played together with Stina Källberg.

It then remained to poke one of Truls Möregårdh and Mattias Falck, WC finalists in 2021 and 2019. Falck is also something of a doubles specialist.

With facts in hand Confederation captain Jörgen Persson’s choice was of course the right one. Truls Möregårdh went straight through the television screen when he made it to the final against Fan Zhendong and was most involved in the silver in the team competition.

But before the Olympics, Möregårdh was anything but in top form and the choice was not completely given then.

– Jörgen was right to choose Truls, as well as he played. At the same time, you don’t know what would have happened if I had played.

– It is clear that I was disappointed, everyone wants to be part of the Olympics. But it was just to accept. Little did I understand that it was leaning towards Truls. I also hadn’t played that many competitions during the spring because we had a daughter, so I didn’t have the best conditions, says Mattias Falck.

The Swedish silver team in the Olympics: Truls Möregårdh, Kristian Karlsson and Anton Källberg. Photo: Joel Marklund/Bildbyrån

Of course it still works to guess that it hurt Mattias Falck just to watch when his teammates were successful in the ping pong garden in Paris.

– Of course I wanted to be there. But it was also fantastic and cool to see my friends and teammates play so well.

Falck trained with the team during the tournament and was ready to jump in as a reserve if someone was injured.

– It takes a lot for someone to drop out of an Olympic final, but I was prepared to be able to play.

– We all knew the conditions before the Olympics, that there is tough competition. It is a great strength that we have such a balanced team, we motivate and push each other.

Kristian Karlsson and Mattias Falck after the EC gold in doubles in August 2022. Photo: Mathias Bergeld/Bildbyrån

On Tuesday, the EC starts in Austrian Linz and Mattias Falck go there as by far the most meritorious Swede in the EC context.

In doubles, he has a gold to defend together with Kristian Karlsson (they also sensationally won the WC gold in Houston 2021). They also have two silver and two bronze in the EC.

In singles, Falck has taken bronze in the last two European Championships.

– I want to improve it now. And in doubles we will make sure we defend the gold. Then I also play mixed with Linda Bergström, it will be interesting, he says.

Is there a sense of revenge after the Olympics?

– No, not revenge, I only play for myself. After the summer, the form has felt better, says 33-year-old Falck, who has already decided to focus on the next Olympics in Los Angeles in four years.

One who has given thanks for himself is the national team captain Jörgen Persson, who is not in Linz. Tobias Bergman now plays bass for both the women’s and men’s national team.

– It will be guaranteed to be good. But it’s sad that Jörgen isn’t there. I have played under him for seven years since he took me out to a big competition in Malaysia, says Falck.

Four Swedes have in principle medal chance in the men’s singles. At the European Championships in Munich two years ago, the Swedes beat each other out, Falck eliminated both Anton Källberg and Truls Möregårdh.

Then Kristian Karlsson was sensationally well on his way to the final, but had to break the semi-final against Darko Jorgic after hitting his hand on the sharp edge of the table.

– There are many of us who can do it, but actually it’s not fun at all to face another Swede in the tournaments, says Mattias Falck.

Facts. Table tennis EC in Linz

What: EC for men and women, in singles, doubles and mixed.

Our: In Linz, Austria.

When: Tuesday 15 October–Sunday 20 October.

The Swedish squad:

Men: Truls Möregårdh, Anton Källberg, Mattias Falck, Kristian Karlsson, Simon Berglund.

Ladies: Linda Bergström, Stina Källberg, Filippa Bergand, Matilda Hansson, Alma Rööse.

The biggest Swedish medal chances: Truls Möregårdh and Anton Källberg in singles. Mattias Falck/Kristian Karlsson in doubles and Stina Källberg/Kristian Karlsson in mixed.

Show more

Show less

Read more:

“God” is there – Beijing has been hit by Truls fever

Over a hundred children queued to play ping pong – but the Tramway has no room