Sweden's Dominance at Finnkampen Sets Stage for World Athletics Championships

In a striking display of athletic prowess, Sweden's teams dominated the 2025 Finnkampen, exemplifying the nation's growing strength in track and field. During the event's 100th anniversary, Sweden triumphed decisively over Finland, with the women's team winning by 31 points and the men's team by an impressive 51 points, marking the largest margin of victory for Sweden in a decade. This success comes as Sweden gears up for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where head coach Kajsa Bergqvist has already nominated 30 athletes, with expectations for more as qualification rankings finalize.

Bergqvist praised her athletes, noting their seriousness and commitment: "They have taken the task of achieving a double victory very seriously, and I think we blow them away this year." The final qualifications for the World Championships concluded over the weekend, with Wednesday expected to bring updates on athletes' rankings following a competitive weekend of national championships across various countries. Bergqvist aims to nominate additional athletes based on their rankings, including promising talents like Thea Löfman, Grete Ahlberg, Kajsa Roth, Ellen Ekholm, and Jesper Arbinge, the latter of whom achieved a remarkable 20-meter shot put throw.

Amidst Sweden's triumph, the event has cast a shadow on Finnish athletics, prompting criticism of their leadership. Finnish athletics expert Arto Bryggare expressed serious concerns regarding their performance, pointing out that Finland failed to secure any athletics medals at the Paris Olympics and only managed one bronze medal in the recent World Championships. Bryggare criticized Tuomo Salonen, the Finnish top sports chief, for his handling of the athletics program, saying, "I am shocked that he is responsible for the Finnish athletes. How can that be?" This disappointment underscores a growing concern for the future of Finnish athletics as they grapple with systemic issues in performance and development.

Looking ahead, Bergqvist is optimistic about the potential size of Sweden's team at the World Championships, suggesting it could be the largest ever, surpassing the previous record of 36 athletes who competed in 1995. "We are going to Japan with a large and really strong team," she affirmed, indicating a robust Swedish presence on the international athletics stage. As preparations continue, the contrasting sentiments between the Swedish and Finnish camps highlight a pivotal moment for athletics in both nations, with the championships set to commence on September 13.