Pelle Svensson is dead – she turned 77

Of: Kristoffer Bergström

Published: Dec 17, 2020 at 12:37 p.m.
Updated: December 17, 2020 at 1:00 p.m.

Photo: NIKLAS LARSSON / BILDBYRÅN

Pelle Svensson is dead, he turned 77.

Two-time world champion Pelle Svensson is dead.

The icon of the fighter and lawyer turned 77 years old.

– It was a peaceful goodbye. We were all together, says Ms. Pia.

In the 1950s, a boy named Pelle wore the Sundsvall AIK tracksuit for the first time. A remarkable career followed for the fighter named Pelle Sving and he won two European gold, two world championships and one Olympic silver in the Greco-Roman style.

After his sports career, he became a lawyer and a writer before retiring. Most recently, he was ill with dementia and cancer and was living in a service home in Sundsvall.

During the spring, the 77-year-old felt lonely as a result of the pandemic, but when restrictions eased, visits became more frequent.

– He has four kids and I, so we’ve covered it well. He came out in the fall and he met us. But the disease is terrible, says Ms. Pia Svensson.

“They were all gathered”

She has just returned home after being with her husband for the last two days of her life.

– I have cried a lot and I have not slept at all, so it was hard. But the parting was nice, he says and tells about Pelle’s last time.

– He had his cancer, so there have been operations and metastases everywhere. Then it goes fast.

How was the last time?

– They were all together in the morning. He was wearing the Saik jumpsuit again. We put your Olympic silver medal and late gold medal on your chest. It was a good time. They were all gathered.

Published: Dec 17, 2020 at 12:37 p.m.

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