Swedes in the News

Swedes in the News [ ] Swedish Champions in Music, Sports and Labor

Tusse Wins Mello

Tusse wins “Mello”. Photo: Stina Stjernkvist, SVT

On March 13, 19-year-old

Tousin “Tusse” Chiza

won Melodifestivalen – an annual music contest where Sweden selects who will represent them in the Eurovision Song Contest. Tusse is originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo but came to Sweden as a refugee at the age of 7. Escaping the war, he was separated from his parents and ended up in a refugee camp in Uganda, where he spent almost three years before coming to Sweden. He now lives with a Swedish foster family in Dalarna. In 2019, he won Swedish Idol. Tusse will compete in Eurovision in Rotterdam on May 18-22. The contest will be broadcast on SVT Play.

Another Gold for Duplantis

Pole vault world record holder Armand Duplantis secured another gold at the European Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland in March. The Swede was the only athlete to clear 5.85m and he did so on his first attempt. He then cleared 6.05m setting a new championship record. Duplantis ended by having the bar raised to a new world record height of 6.19m. He came very close on his second

Armand Duplantis. Photo: Christine Olsson/TT

attempt, but in the end he had to settle for another gold medal and his 20th consecutive competition victory.

Sundling World Champion

Gold medalist Jonna Sundling. Photo: Bildbyrån.

Swedish cross-country skier Jonna Sundling is world champion after securing Sweden’s second World Cup gold ever in a women’s sprint in Oberstdorf, Germany. “It’s absolutely amazing,” an ecstatic Sundling told Radiosporten.

Three days later, Sundling won another gold in Team Sprint together with teammate Maja Dahlqvist. Sundling made the most of the slim lead provided to her by Dahlqvist as she entered the last lap under pressure from Russia’s Natalya Nepryayeva. Nepryayeva fell away on the final climb, but Switzerland’s Nadine Faehndrich took up the chase to set up a thrilling sprint finish. Sundling managed to keep her cool and cruised to victory.

Stig Malm is Dead

Swedish trade unionist and retired politician Stig Malm passed away from COVID-19 in early March. A strong voice within the worker’s movement, Malm was a controversial public figure who served as chairman of the Swedish

Stig Malm. Photo: Fredrik Persson/ TT Nyhetsbyrån

Trade Union Confederation (Landsorganisationen i Sverige, LO) from 1983 to 1993. The Confederation is the central organisation for 14 affiliates which organise about 1,5 million workers within both the private and the public sectors.

World's Longest Vasalopp

Måns Möller. Photo: Siljan News

Swedish comedian Måns Möller recently set a world record by completing ten Vasalopp in a row; one a day for ten days. The 46-yearold Swede skied a total of 900 km alongside Christer Skog, former captain of Sweden’s national crosscountry team. The goal was to raise money for Viggo Foundation, named after Möller’s son who suffers from a neuropsychiatric disorder. The foundation helps youth with neuropsychiatric illnesses participate in sports. Möller hoped to raise SEK 100,000, but he well exceeded expectations having raised 1,700,000 thus far. And more keeps pouring in.

“It’s incredibly cool that so many people have donated, a big thanks to all of them,” says Möller.

Victoria has COVID-19 Crown Princess Victoria

and Prince Daniel have tested positive for COVID19, but are reportedly feeling well under the circumstances.