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Interview with the new World Champion Jonas Gustafsson
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27 Aug 2009 at 20:33 | Published by: Hans | Views: 15052 | News search ![](img/forum/magnifier.png)
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![Interview with the new World Champion Jonas Gustafsson Interview with the new World Champion Jonas Gustafsson](../photo/news/medium/IMG_1684_090827_201918.jpg)
Jonas Gustafsson in a tricky situation at lane 3 in the SD of the final against Filiph Svensson. (Photo by Hans Bergström 2009)
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Interview with Jonas Gustafsson (JG), Sweden and Jönköping BGK
This interview was done the 26th of August 2009. Interviewer is Hans Bergström (HB).
HB: First of all congratulations to the World Championship gold title in Odense last weekend. Have you been able to get back to any form of normal life yet?
JG: Thank you very much! Yes, I started to work again Monday morning but it was very easy to get up and work after that weekend!
HB: What happened after the title? Have there been lots of media interests and celebrations?
JG: Yes, really a lot! I have got a lot of congratulations from friends, other Minigolfers and customers at work.
There have also been a lot of media-interests here in my town, Jönköping. A big article in the newspaper and two radio-interviews.
HB: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself to those who don’t know you. Who is Jonas Gustafsson?
JG: I am soon to be 26 years old. I live in Jönköping and that is also my home club.
I have played Minigolf since 1997 and love the sport mostly because of the “competition-moments”. I work as a sales representant and live together with Maria Olsson (6th place in WC2009).
HB: Short questions:
JG:
Profession: Sales representant
Year of birth: 1983
Start of Minigolf career: 1997
Make of club: Nifo steel
Favourite ball: Old Classic 1
Favourite surface: Eternite
Technical tip: Be patient, watch other good players and don’t be afraid to ask them about tips.
HB: So back to Odense. How was the feeling in the final KO-rounds? Were you nervous or did you feel confident in wining all matches?
JG: The strange thing is that I was not nervous at all in the KO-rounds, but very nervous in the first day of the tournament when there was no actual reason.
In the KO-rounds I had a very good mental feeling and even when 2 matches were even after 18 lanes, I somewhere felt that I should win.
Actually I dreamed in the night before the KO-finals that I won the WC, and for once, a dream really came true.
HB: Which was the toughest match you played in the KO-rounds?
JG: No one of my 5 matches were easy, everybody was very tough with 17-18 lanes played, but the toughest was of course in the final against Filiph Svensson, when we played sudden death in 5 lanes. But that was also the funniest
HB: You also won with your team Sweden. What do you value the highest, individual or the team gold?
JG: Before and during the practice and the first 3 days of competition the only thing that’s important is the team-competition. But after that the individual competition starts. It’s like two different tournaments so hard to compare.
Now, with some distance, I must say I value the individual gold highest. We were clear favorites in team but I have never won any medal individually.
HB: There has been much discussion on the Internet about the new KO modus played in the individual finals at international championships. What is your opinion about the KO-modus in general?
JG: From the first day I heard about the coming KO-system I have said I liked it because I know I´m quite good in that kind of play. I also think that KO is the most exiting kind of play (look at this year’s finals).
But I also understand the big amount of players that don´t like the KO and for me it´s no problem with going back to stroke-play. But what I don´t understand is a very common argument: “In KO the best player never win”. For me the best player always wins, the question is what is a good player? In KO you have to be best when it really matters, and in strokes best over a long time. If we play KO, we must change that focus!
HB: Who do you think would have won in Odense if the old (stroke play) modus would have been played instead with another 4 rounds on Saturday?
JG: I think C-J Ryner would have won. But it´s difficult to say because there are a few players that maybe would have played better in the preliminary rounds if they also was counted in the individual competition.
HB: What is your next goal when it comes to Minigolf?
JG: My next goal is EC 2009 with my club BGK Jönköping. We were second last year and hope to compete about the title with Uppsala, Hardenberg and the others.
HB: The world championships next time in 2011 will be held in Stockholm. Will we be able to see you participate there?
JG: I really hope so! A WC in Sweden would have been really fun to play! But mostly it depends on my work-situation. This year there were fewer days and then it´s much easier to get free from work. But maybe it´s a little bit more easy next time, now when I am World Champion
HB: Now to the final and most important question. How do you spell your family name? Is it "f" or v""?
JG: Haha….it´s with “f”
HB: Again a big congratulation to the WC title and good luck in the future.
JG: Thank you very much, Hans!
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