Carolina Pettersson celebrates the WC gold in the Swedish flag.
Photo: Private
Photo: Private
Photo: Private
Photo: Private
Photo: Private
Photo: Private
Photo: Private
Photo: Private
Photo: Private
It should have been a day of joy in August when Carolina Pettersson won her second straight WC gold.
The Swede was superior in the 65-kilogram class and afterwards turned to his social media.
There she posted a picture when the title was celebrated wrapped in Sweden’s flag.
For that, the 33-year-old has been reported to the disciplinary committee and risks being suspended.
– It’s a rather difficult feeling. I think such a case involves more serious matters than having worn the Swedish flag after winning the World Cup. Type that you behaved badly towards someone or used prohibited substances, I associate it more with such things. It’s not fun.
Pettersson says that it has been emotionally stressful and that she feels “a bit stigmatized”.
But that’s not the worst.
– Above all, I was sad because we are keen that we stay together in Sweden. We really don’t want any division and that one person still chooses to file a disciplinary report, it obviously didn’t feel good.
“Held championship on bars”
So how come she can’t celebrate with the Swedish flag?
Behind it hides a conflict between the two major world confederations in the sport. In 2019, the breakaway organization IFA was founded, of which Sweden is a part together with about 30 other nations.
– The basic reason was that it was considered that there was corruption and unfairness which was unacceptable in the old alliance. Since then, Swedish arm sports have made decisions in a democratic order about which one they want to belong to and where they want to send national teams, says IFA chairman Anders Axklo.
Despite that, the majority of the sport’s top practitioners have chosen to remain in the old federation, the WAF.
One of them is Carolina Pettersson.
– The championships in the new association have not really met the standard. They have been held in bars, new rules have been voted on in strange ways, there have been problems with doping tests… But we have double membership to be able to compete in Sweden and against the best internationally, she says.
The chairman sits on the disciplinary committee
It is a former member of the Swedish Armsports Federation who sent in the report against Pettersson. It is considered that those who compete in the WAF championship do not have the right to represent Sweden or call themselves a Swedish national team.
Anders Axklo – chairman of IFA – sits on the disciplinary committee that will decide her case.
– He has said that he is annoyed that we stayed, that it is “selfish and undemocratic”. The report is an expression of that. It is unpleasant that he is on the committee. He says he’s impartial on the matter, but it still gives me an unpleasant feeling. “Well, he sits on the disciplinary committee” and someone he previously worked with has sent in a report. It increases the stress a little and the feeling that it is a little shady.
Axklo himself says that he declared himself adamant on the issue and will not influence the decision.
– I sit on a committee where I declared myself a jerk because I have a background in arm wrestling and should not participate in that discussion for reasons of integrity and credibility, he says.
“Don’t want to celebrate like a war criminal”
Should Pettersson be convicted, she risks suspension, fines or a reprimand.
Did you know about the risks before?
– Yes, this issue has been discussed and raised at some annual meeting. At the same time, if you win the WC, you think that people should accept that you celebrate it. That you want to celebrate as a nation and not as some war criminal. The alternative is to be neutral, like those who commit war crimes. I know that it was thought that you could go ahead with such a thing, but I think it is reasonable to be able to show that I can show that I represent Sweden.
You don’t want to feel like a war criminal?
– No, I don’t want that. We are very proud of Sweden’s women’s national team. It has always been one of the best in the world and everyone knows about it. We have always had a good reputation and you take that with you into competitions. If someone were to take that away from you, you would be taking away a large part of what we train and fight for.
How has this affected you personally?
– Now I have probably landed in it and accepted that it is what it is. I have received so much support from all sides. From friends and from WAF who say they will back me. But it was worse in the beginning.
Facts: Carolina Pettersson
Lives: Nora, Örebro county.
Family: Daughters Tove, Vera and Siri.
Born: April 24, 1991 (age 33).
Merit: EC gold 2023, WC gold 2023 and 2024.
Occupation: PhD student and works as a biomedical analyst.
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The Master’s Best Armwrestling Tips
1. Bend the wrist for better control of the opponent’s hand.
2. Pull the arm towards you, more like a pull.
3. Raise yourself with the side and fold the body to get the body effect.
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